<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A "super El Niño" gathering strength in the tropical Pacific Ocean raises the likelihood of warmer and drier weather for large parts of Australia in coming months.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>El Niño — the climate condition when seas are unusually warm — can upturn usual weather patterns in winter and spring.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This year's El Niño could become one of the most powerful on record, with forecasters predicting it could reach a "super" level, reports </span><a href="https://www.weatherzone.com.au/news/what-does-a-super-el-nino-mean-for-australias-weather/1891320" rel="" target="_blank" title="Weatherzone"><span>Weatherzone</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/warm-weather-to-sweep-southern-australia/3085b6f8-1f23-4636-9c03-cc8f16f5f7d0" rel="" target="_blank" title="Unseasonable autumn heat grips multiple states"><strong><span>Unseasonable autumn heat grips multiple states</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>What's driving the meteorological phenomenon is a huge slab of warm water sitting up to 250 metres below the central equatorial Pacific Ocean.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"These above-average sub-surface temperatures have strengthened in the last couple of months, with anomalies exceeding 6 degrees in some areas," Weatherzone said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's possible that these warm sub-surface waters will upwell towards the surface in the coming weeks and months, which could kick off El Niño."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/australia-weather-update-what-super-el-nino-means-for-coming-months/454a0f5c-afa2-49de-b1cc-bcb3a6916762" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The possibility of El Niño developing is also backed by consensus in global weather forecast modelling.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Centre's latest forecast shows there is a 25 per cent chance of a very strong El Niño in the latter half of this year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/highpressure-system-brings-warm-spell-to-southern-states/a36e823c-12aa-4aa2-9eae-c2e76730376d" rel="" target="_blank" title="Why it's unseasonably warm in southern parts of Australia at the moment"><strong><span>Why it's unseasonably warm in southern parts of Australia at the moment</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><span>What will happen in Australia?</span></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While El Niño can happen without any major weather changes, it makes some conditions more likely in winter and spring.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Records over the past decade show huge parts of eastern Australia usually experience less rainfall and higher-than-average seasonal temperatures outside tropical regions during El Niño.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mornings in winter and spring can be unusually cool due to clearer skies.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Spikes in temperature also bring greater evaporation, and together with lower rainfall, raises the risk of drought in some parts.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Lower snow depths in alpine regions also raises the chance of a shorter ski season.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But meteorologists at Weatherzone say even with a stronger El Niño, these conditions in coming months are far from certain.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It is important to point out that stronger events do not always mean bigger weather impacts and even a weak El Niño can cause significant weather and climate impacts in Australia."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on 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