Decreased seasonal falls more likely in northeastern Australia

Seasonal rainfall odds released today by the Bureau of Meteorology, indicate an increased likelihood of below median falls over northeastern Australia and a few small patches in the southeast. The chances of accumulating at least median rain during the late winter to mid-spring period (Aug-Oct) are close to 50% across remaining parts of the country.

The pattern of seasonal rainfall odds is mostly a result of continuing above average temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean.

For the August to October period, the chances of above median rainfall are between 30 and 40% over most of northern and western Queensland and the adjacent border areas of far northeast SA and far northwest NSW (see map). In north central Queensland the probabilities drop a little below 30%. So in years with ocean patterns like the current, about three August to October periods out of ten are expected to be wetter than median over northeast Australia, with about seven out of ten being drier. However, it should be noted that August to October includes some of the dry season across northern Australia and heavy rain is uncommon during this period.

In parts of southwest Victoria and northern Tasmania the chances of above median seasonal falls are a little below 40%, indicating about a six out of ten chance of below median rain. However, as far as Victoria is concerned this outlook should be used with caution because ocean temperatures only have a weakly consistent influence on seasonal rainfall at this time of year.

Outlook confidence is related to the influence of Pacific and Indian Ocean temperatures on seasonal rainfall. During August to October, history shows this influence to be moderately consistent across most of Queensland, the east and north of the NT and the northern inland of NSW. Elsewhere, it is generally weakly consistent, reaching moderate only in patches, including northern Tasmania (see background information).

The Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) rose strongly in June to a value of +3, well above the May value of −15. The approximate SOI for the 30 days ending 11th July was +4.

With the rise in the SOI, and continued neutral cloud and wind patterns across the tropical Pacific, the chances of an El Niño developing in 2005 are slim. Furthermore, the widespread rainfall over eastern Australia in June is consistent with a neutral Pacific as opposed to a developing El Niño. For routine updates and comprehensive discussion on the latest data relating to El Niño, together with details on what the phenomenon is and how it has affected Australia in the past, see the ENSO Wrap-Up.

Click on the map above for a larger version of the map. Use the reload/refresh button to ensure the latest forecast map is displayed.

Regional versions of this media release are available: | Qld | NSW | Vic | Tas | SA | WA | NT |

Regional commentary is available from the Climate and Consultancy Sections in the Bureau's Regional Offices:

THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE SEASONAL OUTLOOK IS EXPECTED BY 16^th AUGUST 2005

Corresponding temperature outlook

June 2005 rainfall in historical perspective

April to June 2005 rainfall in historical perspective

Background Information

• The Bureau's seasonal outlooks are general statements about the probability or risk of wetter or drier than average weather over a three-month period. The outlooks are based on the statistics of chance (the odds) taken from Australian rainfall/temperatures and sea surface temperature records for the tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans. They are not, however, categorical predictions about future rainfall, and they are not about rainfall within individual months of the three-month outlook period. The temperature outlooks are for the average maximum and minimum temperatures for the entire three-month outlook period. Information about whether individual days or weeks may be unusually hot or cold, is unavailable.

• This outlook is a summary. More detail is available from the contact people or from SILO (www.bom.gov.au/silo/products/SClimate.shtml).

• Probability outlooks should not be used as if they were categorical forecasts. More on probabilities is contained in the booklet The Seasonal Climate Outlook - What it is and how to use it, available from the National Climate Centre. These outlooks should be used as a tool in risk management and decision making. The benefits accrue from long-term use, say over 10 years. At any given time, the probabilities may seem inaccurate, but taken over several years, the advantages of taking account of the risks should outweigh the disadvantages. For more information on the use of probabilities, farmers could contact their local departments of agriculture or primary industry.

• Model Consistency and Outlook Confidence: Strong consistency means that tests of the model on historical data show a high correlation between the most likely outlook category (above/below median) and the verifying observation (above/below median). In this situation relatively high confidence can be placed in the outlook probabilities. Low consistency means the historical relationship, and therefore outlook confidence, is weak. In the places and seasons where the outlooks are most skilful, the category of the eventual outcome (above or below median) is consistent with the category favoured in the outlook about 75% of the time. In the least skilful areas, the outlooks perform no better than random chance or guessing. The rainfall outlooks perform best in eastern and northern Australia between July and January, but are less useful in autumn and in the west of the continent. The skill at predicting seasonal maximum temperature peaks in early winter and drops off marginally during the second half of the year. The lowest point in skill occurs in early autumn. The skill at predicting seasonal minimum temperature peaks in late autumn and again in mid-spring. There are also two distinct periods when the skill is lowest - namely late summer and mid-winter. However, it must always be remembered that the outlooks are statements of chance or risk. For example, if you were told there was a 50:50 chance of a horse winning a race but it ran second, the original assessment of a 50:50 chance could still have been correct.

• The Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) is calculated using the barometric pressure difference between Tahiti and Darwin. The SOI is one indicator of the stage of El Niño or La Niña events in the tropical Pacific Ocean. It is best considered in conjunction with sea-surface temperatures, which form the basis of the outlooks. A moderate to strongly negative SOI (persistently below –10) is usually characteristic of El Niño, which is often associated with below average rainfall over eastern Australia, and a weaker than normal monsoon in the north. A moderate to strongly positive SOI (persistently above +10) is usually characteristic of La Niña, which is often associated with above average rainfall over parts of tropical and eastern Australia, and an earlier than normal start to the northern monsoon season. The Australian impacts of 23 El Niño events since 1900 are summarized on the Bureau's web site (www.bom.gov.au/climate/enso/).