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The El Nino, or a warming of sea-surface
temperatures in the Pacific, causes heavy rains and floods in
South America and scorching weather in Asia and even east
Africa.
Climate indicators in recent weeks had suggested an El Nino was
forming but the BOM said those levels have now been breached,
marking the return of an El Nino after six years.
"The current El Nino event is likely to see a sustained increase
in intensity, peaking around spring or early summer," said David
Jones, senior climatologist at the BOM.
"There are always some doubts about intensity forecasts but
across the models as a whole, this will likely be quite a
substantial El Nino event."
An El Nino will bring warm, dry conditions for much of the
Australian east coast, exacerbating drought-like conditions for
some parts of the northern east coast.
Such conditions would be unfavorable for production of wheat in
Australia and sugar production globally, providing some support
to prices that have slumped in recent weeks.
(Reporting by Colin Packham; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
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