A positive SAM event coincided with a late-developing La Niña that peaked in late summer. Lower than average pressure over Antarctica and the Southern Ocean was surrounded by higher than average pressure across the southern parts of the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans (see image).
Both the positive SAM and La Niña contributed to the above average rainfall recorded over most of eastern Australia, including large parts of New South Wales and southern Queensland. This is a typical response during summers influenced by positive SAM. At the time, it was the eighth-wettest summer on record for Queensland and the tenth-wettest for New South Wales. Almost a dozen New South Wales stations recorded their wettest summer on record along with a handful of Queensland stations.