Australia's Bureau of Meteorology Declares El Niño, Warning It Could Be Strongest on Record
ABC Australia—Australia's Bureau of Meteorology officially declared the onset of El Niño conditions, with sea surface temperatures in the central Pacific reaching levels that could make this event the most intense in the modern measurement era. The declaration signals elevated drought risk for eastern Australia, Indonesia, and parts of Southern Africa, while the US Southwest may face wetter conditions. Scientists are watching closely to see if the system reaches 'Godzilla' intensity, surpassing the record-breaking 1997-98 event.