Weather tracker: Australia officially in grip of El Niño as temperatures soar

Country imposes first total fire ban in three years amid record-breaking September heatwave

Australia has declared the start of an El Nino weather phenomenon, with a record-breaking September heatwave gripping the south-eastern region that has prompted the country's first total fire ban in three years. The Bureau of Meteorology reported extreme conditions, particularly prolonged heat, across parts of the continent. New South Wales (NSW) experienced temperatures soaring up to 16C above the September average, with Sydney reaching 34.4C, just shy of the all-time September record. NSW had 61 bushfires, 13 of which remained uncontained owing to forecasted strong winds, resulting in catastrophic fire danger.

El Nino typically leads to droughts in Australia, and the World Meteorological Organization had earlier predicted a 90% likelihood of El Nino conditions developing in the latter half of 2023.