S8 Ep853: Jeremy Zakis reports on an unusually early and severe cold snap hitting the eastern seaboard of Australia, which he identifies as the arrival of El Niño. The "arctic blast" arrived over a month earlier than expected, bringing frost even to sea-level areas
S8 Ep853: Jeremy Zakis reports on an unusually early and severe cold snap hitting the eastern seaboard of Australia, which he identifies as the arrival of El Niño. The "arctic blast" arrived over a month earlier than expected, bringing frost even to sea-level areas  
Podcast: The John Batchelor Show
Published On: Sun May 10 2026
Description: Jeremy Zakis reports on an unusually early and severe cold snap hitting the eastern seaboard of Australia, which he identifies as the arrival of El Niño. The "arctic blast" arrived over a month earlier than expected, bringing frost even to sea-level areas like Sydney and temperatures near zero degrees Celsius in elevated regions like Canberra. Jeremy notes that while the cold makes roads slippery, local birds are adapting rather than migrating; they "puff up" their feathers to conserve heat and stay still in the trees to avoid the freezing air. Unlike extreme heat, this cold has not yet caused bird fatalities. (1/4)1900 QUEENSLAND