Australia's meteorological agency has confirmed an El Nino event in the Pacific, potentially bringing drier, warmer weather to parts of the country.
While forecasts signal a "strong to very strong" El Nino climatic pattern, the Bureau of Meteorology says a potent system does not necessarily equate to strong weather impacts for Australia.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Friday ascribed a 63 per cent chance of an El Nino of record-breaking strength developing later in the year.