Reduced winter rainfall likely in parts of southern Australia

摘要

THERE is a moderate shift in the odds towards below average winter rainfall across parts of southern Australia. For the rest of the country, the chances of accumulating at least average rain during winter are close to 50%. The pattern of winter rainfall odds is a result of above average temperatures in both the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Across southwest Western Australian and southeastern Australia, the warm oceans have a reinforcing effect with the odds tilted in favour of a drier than average winter. However, across southern Queensland and northern NSW, the effects from the two oceans tend to cancel each other, with drier conditions promoted by the warm Pacific and wetter conditions by the warm Indian.