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Environment

Twin ocean climate anomalies may trigger heat and drought in 2024

A strong El Niño in the Pacific Ocean is coinciding with a similarly strong climate pattern in the Indian Ocean, suggesting South-East Asia and Australia will soon experience heat, drought and wildfires

By James Dinneen

6 November 2023

Firefighters in New South Wales, Australia, on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019.

Wildfires may soon sweep across South-East Asia and Australia

David Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The unusual combination of a strong El Niño in the Pacific Ocean and a strong shift in temperatures across the Indian Ocean could intensify heat and drought in Australia and South-East Asia, and lead to flooding in East Africa.

In May, the Pacific Ocean saw the emergence of a warm El Niño climate pattern after three years of colder La Niña conditions. The shift contributed to the unprecedented heat seen this year, although the El Niño is not expected to reach its…

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