Australia put on La Niña watch by Bureau of Meteorology as Pacific sea surface temperatures cool

Weather bureau says there is now a 50/50 chance of La Niña forming this year

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Australia has been placed on La Niña watch by the Bureau of Meteorology with early signs the climate pattern linked to cooler and wetter conditions across most of the country could form later this year.

The bureau said there was now a 50/50 chance of La Niña forming this year with sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific steadily cooling since December.

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