The Pacific Ocean is warming earlier than usual, thus creating the term "Super El Nino"
For western Canada, an El Nino usually delivers a warmer and drier winter to the Prairies.
The winter dryness would be a concern in many years, but for the most part, Western Canada should have decent soil moisture reserves heading into winter.
"We do have some good soil moisture reserves. Again, it depends a little bit on how the weather plays out for the rest of the growing season," said Bruce Burnett, Director of Weather and Markets with Glacier Farm Media.
"If we turn hot and dry for an extended period of time, some of the southern growing areas will probably start running out of moisture and wouldn't welcome an El Nino winter. But again, it's mostly positive news for the winter season. At least we won't go through another brutal winter."
He says Australia and its crop production would be impacted by a Super El Nino.
"They've had a number of years of really good crops in Australia and this will be their first smaller crop in a while, so that'll be good news for us and our marketings into Southeast Asia." he said.
Other growing regions in Southeast Asia, such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia where palm oil is produced, would also be affected.
"And so it's a little bit different impact on the palm oil crop because it's a perennial crop. So it takes a while for the drought to impact production, but it certainly is at risk at the same time as those countries are increasing their use of biofuels using that palm production." Burnett said.
El Nino usually arrive in August or September but this year it came in June, he said.
"Again, it doesn't have an impact on us as much, but we are seeing dryness in Eastern Australia already and that will impact their crops. It's their winter season, but it's certainly not a good sign for them."
(With files from Neil Billinger, CJWW)
