Both the El Nino – Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), Australia’s main climate drivers, remain neutral and are forecast to stay that way throughout winter. However, the ocean temperatures north west of Australia are “Warmer than Average” which is likely to result in north-west cloud bands bringing tropical rainfall across central and southern Australia.

The outlook therefore for April to June is for “Above Average” rainfall to be likely for Western Australia and across parts of southern Australia. Both minimum and maximum temperatures also likely to be “Above Average” particularly in the tropical regions and eastern states. For the southern cropping regions, the timing of the ‘Autumn Break’ has been forecast to occur close to it’s average time in most locations.

Rainfall Roundup

“Above Average” and “Very Much Above Average” rainfall was recorded from the north west of Western Australia through central Australia and down into the south eastern states (Fig. 1). This was largely due to ex tropical cyclone Esther bringing heavy rainfall to northern and eastern Australia in early March. This rain reached some of the drought affected areas that missed out on the rains in February, most notably western Queensland and western New South Wales (Fig.1). However, more rain is still required in many drought affected regions (Fig. 2).

Rainfall Forecast

The BoM’s ACCESS model suggests that April is likely to deliver “Above Average” rainfall for the western half of Australia and parts of the southeast. Areas of the Queensland east coast however are likely to receive “Below Average” rainfall (Fig. 3).

For the three-month forecast, April to June, rainfall is likely to be “Above Average” for much of southern and western Australia but the Northern Cape York Peninsula in Queensland is likely to experience “Below Average” rainfall (Fig. 3). Note that at this time of year accuracy for the three-month forecast is moderate except for areas in the south east of Australia and along the east coast where accuracy is low (Fig. 3).

Temperature Roundup

In March, maximum temperatures in parts of northern Australia have been “Above Average” whereas in the south, particularly New South Wales, maximum temperatures have been “Below Average” (Fig. 4).

Minimum temperatures on the other hand have been “Average” in the eastern states and “Above Average” in Western Australia except for a little area in northern Western Australia which experienced “Below Average” temperatures for the month of March (Fig. 5).  

Temperature Forecast

The BoM’s ACCESS model forecast suggests that over the next three months maximum temperatures are likely to be “Above Average” across northern and eastern Australia but “Below Average” in parts of southern Western Australia (Fig. 6). Minimum temperatures are likely to be “Above Average” across Australia for the next three months (Fig. 7). At this time of year accuracy for the three-month maximum temperature forecast is moderate to high and minimum temperatures, accuracy is moderate to high for Western Australia, the Northern Territory and parts of Queensland but low in south eastern Australia at this time of year. 

Climate and Water Outlook Videos

The Bureau of Meteorology releases regular outlook videos, covering all this information. Watch the most recent video below.

RECENT POSTS

• New Decile Bar Tool a Winner for Producers
• Insights into Barriers & Bridges to the producer adoption of Seasonal Climate Forecasts
• Farming with more than intuition
• A framework to explore climate risky decisions
• What’s with the rain and is there more to come?
• Better forecasts with the move from ACCESS-S1 to ACCESS-S2
• Forecasting extreme climate events – new tools help growers to prepare
• Rainfed cotton—the goldilocks crop
• Climate tool to help farmers plan for drought
• Do producers get what they need from weather and seasonal climate forecasting tools
• Forecast information essential for sugarcane production
• Using past records to better understand frost risk
• Climate tools developed with farmers for farmers
• Indian Ocean driving wetter than average winter–spring outlook
• ‘My Rain Gauge is Busted’ podcast series
• Health and productivity focus helps ride out extremes
• Probing the value of soil moisture monitoring
• The good, the bad and the ugly – charting the impact of East coast lows
• New forecasting tools aid Red Witchweed cull
• Western climate drivers take the road less traveled