Early Impact of El Niño in Australia

Will 2010 Be Hotter and Drier Still?

Weekly highest maximum temperature for Australia

Source: BOM. Click image to enlarge. Image may be subject to copyright.

Current month to date rainfall totals for Australia

Source: BOM. Click image to enlarge. Image may be subject to copyright.

Australian Region Infrared Satellite Image

Source: Image from Japan Meteorological Agency satellite MTSAT-1R via Bureau of Meteorology. Click image to enlarge and update. Image may be subject to copyright.

FEWW Comments on the ongoing El Niño:

• Pacific Ocean surface temperature anomalies are at their highest in the past 12 years, exceeding the anomalies recorded in the  1997-98 El Niño.

• The precipitation remains high near the equator, and low in places like Australia.

• The ongoing drought and deluge would cause substantial damage to crops and infrastructure.
• Extremes of climate enhanced by El Nino in 2010 could contribute to food shortages in many parts of the world.

• In June 2009 FEWW Moderators estimated that a new episode of El Niño would have devastating impact globally and  could cause up to $500 billion in damages.

Related Links:

• El Niño Weekly Update [21 Dec 2009]
• Climate Locked into ‘Unending’ El Niño?
• What Florida Might Look Like in 2014
• SE Australia Toasted Brown
• UK Flooding
• Speaking of El Niño, OLR Anomalies in Australia
• El Niño and La Niña: Tracing the Dance of Ocean and Atmosphere

El Niño Updates:

• El Niño [Main Page and Links Archive]