Go Back
  • For Business
  • |
  • Warnings
  • Data Suite
  • Forensics
  • Advertising
  • Superior Accuracy™
Flood-weary Texas finally drying out, but near 100-degree heat looms Chevron right
Tropical rainstorm soaks Florida, could strengthen in Gulf before targeting Louisiana Chevron right

Columbus, OH

87°F
Location Chevron down
Location News Videos
Use Current Location
Recent

Columbus

Ohio

87°
No results found.
Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest.
settings
Columbus, OH Weather
Today WinterCast Local {stormName} Tracker Hourly Daily Radar MinuteCast Monthly Air Quality Health & Activities

Around the Globe

Hurricane Tracker

Severe Weather

Radar & Maps

News

News & Features

Astronomy

Business

Climate

Health

Recreation

Sports

Travel

For Business

Warnings

Data Suite

Forensics

Advertising

Superior Accuracy™

Video

Winter Center

AccuWeather Early Hurricane Center Top Stories Trending Today Astronomy Heat Climate Health Recreation In Memoriam Case Studies Blogs & Webinars

Weather Blogs / Global weather

Devastating drought takes hold across eastern Australia as El Nino looms

By Eric Leister, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

Published Aug 7, 2018 4:35 PM EDT | Updated Aug 7, 2018 4:35 PM EDT

Copied

Australia has always been known as a place for extreme weather, and the current drought is just another example.

Parts of New South Wales are enduring what some call the worst drought in a generation as a dry winter has followed the second driest autumn on record for southern Australia.

Roughly 99% of New South Wales is currently listed as being in a drought.

Some farmers have said that trees there are 100 years or more old are dying from this current drought, to indicate the magnitude of the drought.

Australia 8/7

Cattle crowd around a water truck amid one of the worst droughts in recent memory in parts of Australia.

Leading up to the dry conditions in 2018, the 2017 year was the 20th driest on record since 1900 which helped set the stage for the drought this year.

While the current drought has been devastating and could have a significant impact on the upcoming growing season, its effects will fall short of the millennium drought which saw nine consecutive years of below-normal autumn rains which are crucial for the southern growing season.

That drought which took place from 1997-2005 destroyed roughly 50 percent of Australia crop lands.

Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull recently stated, "Now we are the land of droughts," while announcing $140 million Australian dollars ($104 million American dollars) in additional aid for farmers.

Concerns are only heightened by the fact that El Nino is expected to develop later this year. An El Nino typically results in below-normal rainfall across Australia which would only worsen the current drought conditions.

Report a Typo

Weather News

Weather News

Death toll reaches 129 in Texas as new flash flood threat expands

Jul. 13, 2025
Weather Forecasts

Flood-weary Texas finally drying out, but near 100-degree heat looms

Jul. 14, 2025
Weather News

The Deadliest Floods in Texas History: A State at Risk

Jul. 14, 2025
video

Before-and-after pictures show devastation caused by Texas floods

Jul. 9, 2025
Severe Weather

Severe weather to rumble in the central US through the holiday weekend

Jul. 6, 2025
Weather News

Record sargassum seaweed piles up on Caribbean islands, Gulf

Jul. 2, 2025
Weather News

Alabama teen in ICU after lightning strike hits boat, causing burns an...

Jul. 2, 2025
Show more Show less Chevron down

Topics

AccuWeather Early

Hurricane Center

Top Stories

Trending Today

Astronomy

Heat

Climate

Health

Recreation

In Memoriam

Case Studies

Blogs & Webinars

ABOUT THIS BLOG
Global weather
Jason Nicholls
Jason Nicholls discusses threatening weather events and also interesting weather phenomena all around the world.
  • Astronomy
    with Dave Samuhel
  • Canadian weather
    with Brett Anderson
  • Global climate change
    with Brett Anderson
  • Global weather
    with Jason Nicholls
  • Northeast US weather
    with Elliot Abrams
  • Plume Labs on Air Quality
    with Tyler Knowlton
  • RealImpact of weather
    with Dr. Joel N. Myers
  • WeatherMatrix
    with Jesse Ferrell
  • Western US weather
    with Brian Thompson

Featured Stories

Astronomy

Noctilucent clouds shimmer in summer sky

2 hours ago

Recreation

Yellowstone’s landscape shifts again with discovery of new hot pool

4 hours ago

Weather News

Orcas are bringing humans gifts of food – but why?

3 days ago

Weather News

Giant shoes found spark mystery around the soldiers of ancient Rome

2 hours ago

Weather News

It’s not just humans – chimpanzees also like to follow trends

3 hours ago

AccuWeather Weather Blogs Devastating drought takes hold across eastern Australia as El Nino looms
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
© 2025 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | About Your Privacy Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

...

...

...