BOM declares a 50 per cent chance of El Nino this spring, possible dry and warm conditions ahead

Warm and dry — that has been the story of the season, and now there is a good chance that is set to continue for south-east Australia.

A dry spring will hurt the wheatbelt where winter rain
has declined by 28 per cent since 1990.

The Bureau of Meteorology has just declared an El Nino 'watch', which means that while we are still in the neutral phase of the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) there is an increased chance of El Nino in the months ahead.

El Nino is typically associated with lower than usual rainfall for large parts of eastern Australia in spring, according to senior climatologist at the Bureau, Robyn Duell.

Read Kate Doyle’s story from ABC News - “BOM declares a 50 per cent chance of El Nino this spring, possible dry and warm conditions ahead.”