El Niño Weather Event Officially Declared, Raising Bushfire Risk

“Around two-thirds of Australia’s driest years on record were during El Niño,” BoM’s climate manager said.

Fire crews control bush fires as they approach properties on Copley Road in Upper Swan in Perth, Australia, on Feb. 2, 2021. Paul Kane/Getty Images

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) officially declared on Sept. 19 that the El Niño weather event and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) are underway, indicating warmer and drier conditions most likely to occur for two-thirds of Australia during this Spring and Summer, raising bushfire dangers.

Karl Braganza, BoM’s climate manager, said both El Niño and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) tend to draw rain away from Australia.