El Niño shaping Australia’s winter-spring 2026 weather outlook – in maps

Australia could be in for an unusually dry and warm winter and spring this year as a developing El Niño causes high pressure systems to dominate Australia’s weather patterns in the coming months.

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Vast cloudband producing showers from Queensland to Tasmania

Showers are soaking large parts of eastern Australia on this unseasonably warm winter Wednesday, as a cloudband stretching from Queensland to well south of Tasmania crosses the continent.

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Key ocean index hits Australian El Niño threshold

Sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean have just passed Australia’s threshold for El Niño.

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Rare 20°C June forecast for Melbourne in unusually warm SE Australia winter spell

A warm week by winter standards is in store for the most populated corner of the country, with maximum temperatures trending around two to five degrees above the June average in the southeastern capitals, and most places in between.

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Latest News Articles

  • Image for: Winter 2026 Australian bushfire outlook

    Winter 2026 Australian bushfire outlook

    Australia’s seasonal bushfire outlook for winter 2026 has been released by the Australian and New Zealand National Council for fire and emergency services (AFAC) and it predicts increased fire risk across the northern parts of Western Australia and a large area of central and northern New South Wales.

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  • Image for: A wild start to the week for southwest WA

    A wild start to the week for southwest WA

    After a period of calmer weather following the low pressure system that battered much of the southwest WA coast on June 1st, WA is set to experience another couple of days of strong winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms as a cold front impacts the region on Monday and Tuesday.

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  • Image for: Large parts of Queensland shiver through their coldest morning of 2026 to date

    Large parts of Queensland shiver through their coldest morning of 2026 to date

    Residents of Qld were finally enticed to break out the doonas last night as cold and dry air spread over much of the state, leading to the coldest morning of 2026 to date.

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  • Image for: World Meteorological Organization tells world to "Prepare for El Niño" in 2026

    World Meteorological Organization tells world to "Prepare for El Niño" in 2026

    The World Meteorological Organization has not minced its words when issuing a clear climate warning for the coming months: “Prepare for El Niño.

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  • Image for: Cold nights, mild days across most of Australia for King’s Birthday’s long weekend

    Cold nights, mild days across most of Australia for King’s Birthday’s long weekend

    The 2026 King’s Birthday long weekend is upon us, which means most workers get the day off this Monday in all states and territories except for Queensland and Western Australia.

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  • Image for: Snowfalls breathe life into 2026 Australian ski season

    Snowfalls breathe life into 2026 Australian ski season

    The weather gods left it pretty late, but the 2026 Australian ski season will kick off this Saturday, June 6, with at least 10 cm of natural snow on the ground at most resorts, plus whatever they can pump out over the next 48 hours through snowmaking.

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  • Image for: Winter bites Melbourne, with Thursday 'feels like' temperatures below 10°C all day

    Winter bites Melbourne, with Thursday 'feels like' temperatures below 10°C all day

    Wet, wintry weather has arrived in Melbourne, with showers and strong winds on the menu for Wednesday, and especially Thursday, as a cold front surges across Victoria.

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  • Image for: Warmest May on record for Tasmania and Hobart

    Warmest May on record for Tasmania and Hobart

    Tasmania and Hobart just had their warmest May on record based on maximum temperatures, with Victoria and New South Wales also having an exceptionally warm month.

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  • Image for: Severe weather warnings for damaging winds in four states

    Severe weather warnings for damaging winds in four states

    A strong low pressure system and associated cold front are funnelling wild winds across southeastern Australia this Tuesday, with severe weather warnings for potentially damaging winds issued for parts of Victoria, South Australia, and New South Wales and the ACT.

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