La Niña has ended but there’s a 50-50 chance another will form by the Australian summer

The Bureau of Meteorology says there is a 50% chance Australia will experience another La Niña event this year – double the normal likelihood. Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has announced an end to the 2021-22 La Niña in the tropical Pacific – but it could return with the BoM changing its status to “watch”.

La Niña, which involves warming ocean temperatures in the western Pacific, typically delivers increased rainfall across much of Australia along with cooler daytime temperatures south of the tropics and warmer night-time temperatures in the north.