Parts of Australia will likely see a wetter-than-average springtime following the Bureau of Meteorology's declaration of a negative Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD).
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Head of long-range forecasting at the Bureau of Meteorology, Dr Andrew Watkins, said the IOD would cause significant weather changes over the coming three months.
"So a negative Indian Ocean Dipole is a change in the temperature patterns out in the tropical Indian Ocean," Dr Watkins said.
"We tend to see warmer conditions off Indonesia and cooler than normal conditions off Africa. And the weather patterns tend to follow where that warmer water is. And shifts the wetter conditions across towards Australia."
More rain and potential flooding are likely for the east coast of Australia, following an already exceptionally wet start to 2022.
"At the moment we have wet soils, full rivers and full dams and a wet outlook for the eastern two-thirds of Australia. So that means the flood risk remains elevated for eastern Australia," Dr Watkin said.
In other news:
"Typically a negative Indian Ocean Dipole sees wetter than normal winter and spring conditions across southern and eastern Australia. And we can also see warmer conditions across northern Australia as well."
Emma Horn
Supervising producer of the national video team. Former features and weekender writer for The Daily Advertiser. Now based in the NSW Hunter region. Small, quiet, and a student of the Paddington Bear School Of Staring. Usually dressed in something colourful, always snacking on something homemade, often watching birds. Friend to most mothers and all dogs. Got stories? Get in touch. emma.horn@austcommunitymedia.com.au
