Large parts of south-east Australia are forecasted to face drier and hotter conditions over the next three months due to a potential El Niño weather phenomenon. The Bureau of Meteorology predicts lower than average rainfall in Queensland and New South Wales during May, June, and July, with almost the entire country likely to experience higher maximum temperatures. The World Meteorological Organization has noted an increasing chance of El Niño developing, which historically correlates with hotter and drier conditions for Australia's east. Caitlin Minney, a climatologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, indicated that the dry forecast for eastern Australia is likely influenced by this developing El Niño. While the drier conditions are expected to be concentrated in New South Wales and Queensland, parts of northern and western Victoria, southern South Australia, and the south-west of Western Australia may also experience reduced rainfall. Climate experts warn that while a “super El Niño” could develop, forecasts at this time of year are often less reliable. The Bureau also highlighted that climate change is significantly impacting temperature forecasts, with global heating having raised Australia’s temperatures by approximately 1.5°C since 1910.