C1250 words1:31News Report Mixed AccentsPublished May 8, 2026 · Updated May 8, 2026

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New South Wales has experienced its second-driest April since records began, receiving a mere thirteen percent of its average monthly rainfall.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, persistent high-pressure systems hovering over the state were primarily responsible for this unprecedented dry spell.

The only April on record that proved drier was in 1997, underscoring the severity of the current environmental data.

Senior climatologist Hugh McDowell cautioned that the landscape was drying out rapidly, with soil moisture levels falling well below average across significant portions of the state.

He emphasized that these deteriorating conditions posed risks not only for agricultural communities but also for the upcoming bushfire season.

Were the drought to persist through winter, its consequences for both farming and fire preparedness could prove severe.

Nationwide, rainfall fell below average in every state and territory except the Northern Territory, which was the sole jurisdiction to record above-normal precipitation.

The Bureau of Meteorology's long-range forecast indicated that these dry weather patterns were likely to persist well into winter.

Climate analysis suggests that a developing El Niño phenomenon may be driving much of this atmospheric shift across the continent.

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Doctor Mandy Freund, a climate scientist at the University of Melbourne, described the looming El Niño as the proverbial elephant in the room.

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She argued that current indicators appeared remarkably strong, though she was careful to note that a powerful El Niño does not automatically translate into severe drought.

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Rather, it substantially elevates the probability of below-average rainfall, particularly from September through November.

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Second-driest April on record for NSW as likely El Niño brings threat of dry year ahead

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