Western Australian rainfall outlook
Issued 23 October 2013
Equal chance of a wetter or drier season in Western Australia
Summary
- The chances of a wetter or drier than normal season are roughly equal over WA
- Climate influences include locally warm sea surface temperatures around most of Australia, and a neutral tropical Pacific
- Outlook accuracy is moderate over northern and western WA
Details
The chance of receiving a wetter or drier than normal November to January period is roughly equal (i.e. close to 50%) across most of WA.
Climate influences
The tropical Pacific has remained ENSO-neutral since mid-2012. Dynamical models surveyed by the Bureau suggest ENSO-neutral conditions are likely to persist at least for the remainder of spring and summer. This means there is no strong shift in the odds from the tropical Pacific in this outlook.
The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is neutral, and is expected to remain so for the next month. Beyond that time, the effect of the IOD on Australian climate from December through to April is limited, and is therefore not an influence in the outlooks during this period.
With the main climate influences likely to remain neutral (and hence have lesser impact upon Australia), secondary influences, such as warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures around Australia are tending to drive the Australian climate patterns.
How accurate is the outlook?
Outlook accuracy is related to how consistently the oceans and broadscale climate affect Australian rainfall. During the November to January period, historical accuracy shows the outlook to be moderately consistent over northern and western WA.
- Regional versions:
- Australia
- Northern Australia
- Southeastern Australia
- Western Australia
