Weak La Nina to dampen summer: BOM

The Bureau of Meteorology says a La Nina weather system has been established in the Pacific Ocean and will bring wetter weather to Australia until autumn.

It's going to be a rainy summer thanks to a La Nina weather system developing in the Pacific Ocean.

The Bureau of Meteorology says the La Nina weather system is expected to continue through autumn, until about March or April.

La Ninas usually bring cloud and above-average rainfalls with them, with the last one stretching from 2010 into 2012 when Australia had its wettest two years on record.

However the bureau says the latest La Nina will be weak and short-lived.

"La Nina typically brings above average rainfall to eastern Australia during late spring and summer," the bureau said.

"However, sea surface temperature patterns in the Indian Ocean and closer to Australia are not typical of a La Nina event, reducing the likelihood of widespread above average summer rainfall.

"La Nina can also increase the chance of prolonged warm spells for southeast Australia."

The bureau had put itself on La Nina watch in recent months after noticing an increase in the chances of one developing this summer.

La Nina occurs when waters in the tropical Pacific Ocean cool and push warmer water towards Australia, bringing cloud and and above-average rainfall.

In an update released on Tuesday, the bureau said signs of La Nina in the tropical Pacific Ocean had increased during spring, with trade winds and cloud patterns also showing clear La Nina patterns.


Share
Published 6 December 2017 8:48am
Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world