Sky News Weather releases Severe Weather Outlook 2023-24 РSky News Weather has released the thirteenth edition of its annual long-range Severe Weather Outlook for 2023-24, revealing the typical wet summers of recent years are no longer, as new El Ni̱o conditions show a warmer and drier few months ahead. Australians are being warned to prepare for scorching heat, bushfires and drought.
The severe weather season (SWS), running from October 2023 to April 2024, is when Australia experiences its most dangerous weather conditions. It will commence with Australia’s weather patterns under the influence of dry phases of global climate drivers for the first time in four years. A strengthening positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) along with an El Niño phase of the Pacific Ocean should ensure the next three to six months are drier than normal.
Australia should see one of its hottest severe weather seasons on record with the national record temperature of 50.7°C at high risk of being surpassed during summer, possibly in multiple locations. Drought is already developing and set to worsen substantially in multiple parts of Queensland, New South Wales, and Western Australia, with the greatest risk over inland regions.
The fire season is expected to be the most active since the 2019-20 Black Summer, with an increased threat across the Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales. Meanwhile, tropical cyclone numbers are likely to be well below the long-term average of 11, with this SWS potentially being the least active cyclone season in eight years.
Media Release – Sky News Australia
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Sky News Weather releases Severe Weather Outlook 2023-24
