The Bureau of Meteorology has formally declared an El Niño weather event, meaning one is underway for the first time since 2023.
The major climate events impact the weather patterns of 60 per cent of the globe, and Australia is particularly vulnerable.
To help make sense of this, ABC News Breakfast meteorologist Nate Byrne and the Climate Council’s Andrew Watkins will join us on the blog to answer some of your questions about El Niño.
Join us live.
Thu 18 Jun 2026 at 10:30am
What did BOM announce?
It’s official: El Niño has arrived.
On Tuesday, the BOM declared that the major climate driver was locked in across the tropical Pacific, with experts warning it could intensify into one of the strongest events in decades.
The Bureau has pointed out that “around half of the models indicate this event could peak at levels among the highest observed since 1950″.
El Niño often brings drier conditions to central and eastern Australia in winter and spring. But Australia’s weather is also shaped by other climate factors, so outcomes can vary.
Thu 18 Jun 2026 at 10:25am
Welcome to today’s Q&A
Good morning and thanks for being here with us.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has officially declared an El Niño weather event, and there’s a lot to unpack about what that means for us here in Australia.
To help break it all down, we’ve brought in a powerhouse panel:
- ABC News Breakfast meteorologist Nate Byrne, and
- Climate Council’s Andrew Watkins.
So, if you’ve got any questions jumping out at you, now is the time to send them through.
Let’s get straight into it!
