Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) says a “very strong” El Niño event is now in full swing. The climate pattern can influence weather across eastern Australia, with potential impacts that include drought conditions as well as higher bushfire risk. Some reports also note that El Niño is associated with broader rainfall and weather variability, which can contribute to flood risk in certain areas and periods. The BoM characterisation suggests the event could be among the more extreme El Niño occurrences on record, though the specific timing and regional impacts can vary. The articles agree that the system is already affecting the climate outlook and that it is expected to continue affecting conditions as it develops. While the possible consequences cover a wide range of hazards—drought, fire and flood—the reporting consistently attributes the assessment to the BoM and focuses on the likely severity of the El Niño itself. As with past events, how conditions play out across states and seasons depends on the interaction of El Niño with other atmospheric and ocean factors.