El Niño is here, summer of heatwaves predicted

The Bureau of Meteorology has finally declared that an El Niño weather pattern is underway, increasing the likelihood of a hot and dry summer for Australia, as global weather records continue to tumble. The declaration comes as cloudless skies over the continent which are typical of El Nino conditions have seen high temperatures develop inland and flow towards the East Coast, where early Spring heat records have been broken.

An El Niño climate pattern will increase the chances of a hot and dry summer, and heighten the risk of dangerous bushfires. New South Wales fire agencies are racing to prepare their crews and complete hazard reduction burns ahead of what is forecast to be the most dangerous fire season since 2019-2020, with catastrophic fire conditions already recorded on the state’s south coast. Total fire bans were declared for the New South Wales south coast and greater Sydney region on Tuesday, while bushfire evacuation orders were issued in parts of Queensland during the week.

Australia now in El Niño climate pattern, increasing bushfire risk, BOM says
The Bureau of Meteorology has declared that Australia is now in an El Niño climate pattern that will increase the chances of a hot and dry summer, and heighten the risk of dangerous bushfires. The announcement comes amid soaring temperatures and extreme fire danger across parts of south-east Australia. Total fire bans were declared for the New South Wales south coast and greater Sydney region on Tuesday, while bushfire evacuation orders were issued in parts of Queensland during the week.

El Nino is here, the Bureau of Meteorology finally confirms
The Bureau of Meteorology has finally declared that an El Nino weather pattern is underway, increasing the likelihood of a hot and dry summer for Australia, as global weather records continue to tumble. The declaration comes as cloudless skies over the continent which are typical of El Nino conditions have seen high temperatures develop inland and flow towards the East Coast, where early Spring heat records have been broken.

‘Worst risk since black summer’: NSW schools closed as early heatwave hits south-east Australia
The New South Wales far south coast has had its fire danger warning upgraded to “catastrophic” due to unexpectedly high winds, as soaring temperatures around the state prompted more than 20 schools to close. The upgraded warning came as Sydney airport recorded its highest temperature for September since 2000 on Tuesday, according to preliminary data from the Bureau of Meteorology.

RFS chief says ‘still a lot to be done’ to prepare for NSW fire season
New South Wales fire agencies are racing to prepare their crews and complete hazard reduction burns ahead of what is forecast to be the most dangerous fire season since 2019-2020, with catastrophic fire conditions already recorded on the state’s south coast. The NSW Rural Fire Service still has to upgrade almost 1,900 firetrucks to comply with national standards, three years after an inquiry found the trucks lacked the necessary safety features to protect crews during a burn over.

Summer of severe heatwaves predicted as Bureau of Meteorology declares El Niño
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has declared two major climate drivers linked to hot, dry conditions are officially underway in Australia, prompting further warnings that extreme heat could hit this spring and summer. After months of anticipation, BOM has confirmed the world's most consequential climate driver, the El Niño weather pattern, is active over the Pacific for the first time in eight years. At a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, BOM also announced the lesser known, but also significant, climate driver, known as a "positive" Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), has also developed. 

Hot and dry conditions to persist across northern and eastern New South Wales
A total fire ban is in place in parts of New South Wales as hot and dry conditions push the state into an early extreme fire danger rating. The cause is a hot and dry north-westerly airstream which will persist across northern and eastern NSW on Wednesday sending temperatures to record-high September levels. It comes as the Bureau of Meteorology formally declared an El Niño weather event was underway, on Tuesday.

‘Mind-blowing’: Sea-ice levels at historic low in Antarctica
The Antarctic’s sea-ice has reached a record low and the consequences could be devastating, polar experts have warned.Satellite data shows that the sea-ice is significantly below any previous recorded winter level (March-October). The area of missing ice is equivalent to almost 1½ times the size of Victoria. “It’s so far outside anything we’ve seen, it’s almost mind-blowing,” said Dr Walter Meier, who monitors sea-ice with the National Snow and Ice Data Centre.

Scientists warn entire branches of the 'Tree of Life' are going extinct
Humans are driving the loss of entire branches of the "Tree of Life," according to a new study published on Monday which warns of the threat of a sixth mass extinction. "The extinction crisis is as bad as the climate change crisis. It is not recognized," said Gerardo Ceballos, professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and co-author of the study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). "What is at stake is the future of mankind,"

Humpback whale struck in head by boat propeller off Pilbara coastline in WA
A 4-metre humpback whale has been severely injured after being struck in the head by a boat propeller off Western Australia. DBCA said staff monitored the animal for several hours before it was observed swimming into deeper water. It was the second collision incident recorded off Dampier in two months. A whale calf was hit by a tugboat in August during a routine Woodside Energy operation, about 6 kilometres out to sea.

Australian seaweed company named finalist in Prince William's prestigious Earthshot Prize
A Tasmanian-based company that grows seaweed to stop cows and sheep burping has been recognised for its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Sea Forest has been shortlisted in the prestigious global environmental award, the Earthshot Prize, set-up in 2020 by Prince William and world renowned wildlife filmmaker and environmentalist Sir David Attenborough. Sea Forest was one of the first start-ups in the world to commercialise the native Australian red seaweed asparagopsis as a feed supplement.

What’s the point? All you need to know about this year’s UN talkfest
For two years, it was the coronavirus pandemic. Then, it was Russia’s war in Ukraine. Throughout it all, the perils of climate change, poverty and inequality have steadily, increasingly thrummed through each convening of world leaders at the UN General Assembly. As the 78th session opens, there’s no single clear crisis set to dominate the General Debate, as none of the aforementioned ones have been resolved. The high-level meeting will be set against the backdrop of an ongoing war, new political crises in West Africa and Latin America, a lingering coronavirus, economic instability, widening inequality and fresh natural disasters in the forms of devastating earthquakes, floods and fires.