The Bureau of Meteorology’s Spring Outlook predicts warmer and drier than average conditions across many parts of Australia for the coming three months.
Manager of Long Range Forecasting at the Bureau, Andrew Watkins said this follows what has been one of the warmest winters on record.
“Much of the eastern mainland has experienced an exceptionally dry 2018 and the outlook is not great news for farmers in drought-impacted parts of the country,” Dr Watkins said.
“These regions need a lot of rain to break the current drought.”
He said that like all Australians, the Bureau staff were hoping those affected by the drought would get the rain they need soon.
“Unfortunately, our outlooks show odds favouring a drier and warmer than average Spring for many areas,” Dr Watkins said.
“Daytime temperatures during Spring are expected to be warmer than average, with the strongest chances (above 80 per cent) in the north and west of the country.
He said with low rainfall and clear skies likely, the risk of cold nights and frost continued in the south, but overall, warmer than normal overnight minimums were likely in many locations for Spring.
Dr Watkins said the chances of an El Niño weather pattern forming in the coming Spring were 50 per cent, roughly double the normal chances.
“Traditionally, El Niño events result in warmer and drier than average conditions across eastern Australia,” he said.
The 2018 Spring Outlook is the first end-of-month seasonal outlook produced using the bureau’s upgraded climate outlook model.
A video of the full outlook can be accessed at this PS News link.
