New Delhi, May 9 -- This year, for many Australians, it feels like summer never left. The sunny days and warm nights have continued well into autumn. Even now, in May, it's still unusually warm.

Much of the southern half of the continent is experiencing both unseasonable warmth and dry conditions. This is linked to persistent high atmospheric pressure (called "blocking") to the south and southeast of Australia.

While temperatures will fall across southern Australia as we approach the winter solstice, early indications are that this winter will be a warm one. Rainfall predictions are less certain.

The extra warmth we've experienced raises obvious questions about the influence of human-caused climate change. The warming signal is clear ...