El Niño forecast brings wildfire and drought warnings | Stuff.co.nz

A historically intense climate event which has sparked intense heatwaves in the Northern Hemisphere is steadily gaining strength here, bringing a severe threat of parched soils, high winds, and heightened wildfire danger.⁠ ⁠ Earth Sciences New Zealand confirmed El Niño conditions have been reached in the tropical Pacific, warning the weather phenomenon could strongly influence the country's weather into 2027.⁠ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stuff NZ is New Zealand’s essential news source — bringing you live, lively and trustworthy journalism from every corner of Aotearoa. Stay informed with breaking news, in-depth stories, and the latest updates that matter to Kiwis. We upload daily, keeping you connected with the people, places and issues shaping New Zealand today. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Social media channels: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nzstuff Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nzstuff