El Nino, the weather phenomenon that has plagued Australia in the past, is set to return with a vengeance, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. This time, it's expected to be one of the strongest in seven decades, with sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific exceeding El Nino thresholds and atmospheric indicators suggesting the phenomenon has begun. Forecasters are predicting excessive rain for the Americas and hot, dry conditions for Asia, which is already facing crop-planting issues and concerns about food supplies. Australia, a major exporter of wheat, sugar, and beef, is particularly vulnerable to the effects of El Nino, which can lead to reduced rainfall in winter and spring and higher daytime temperatures in the south. The last time Australia experienced an El Nino weather pattern was from 2023 to 2024, and it caused the driest three-month period on record. Before that, one of the strongest events in 2015 and 2016 led to widespread drought and reduced oilseed and grain output. Historians say past instances of El Nino have caused famines that killed millions, notably in 1877 and 1878. The United Nations' World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has found an 80 percent likelihood of an El Nino event during June-August 2026, with probabilities for this to continue until at least November near or above 90 percent. This weather pattern is characterized by warming of ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern Equatorial Pacific and typically occurs every two to seven years, lasting about nine to 12 months. The WMO's findings are a stark reminder of the urgent need for climate action, as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned in a video message that the world must treat this as 'the urgent climate warning it is'. He called for ending the addiction to fossil fuels, accelerating the shift to renewables, protecting the most vulnerable, and delivering early warning systems for all. As scientists have said, climate change will supercharge the effects of this year's El Nino, making it all the more critical to take action now. The question remains: will we heed the warning and take the necessary steps to mitigate the impact of El Nino on our planet?
