Seasonal Climate Outlook Message for November 2001 to February 2002

The bottom line

Dated: 21/11/01

Rainfall has been recorded across many areas of Queensland this month. However both the intensity and amounts received have varied greatly depending on location. Generally speaking the rainfall received has offered relief to producers particularly in the drier areas of Queensland such as the Darling Downs and Burnett, although further rain may be needed to produce any real change in the dry seasonal conditions still existing in some areas.

While the rainfall has been welcomed by many producers looking for a good start to the summer cropping and pasture growth season it unfortunately has negatively impacted on some producers still harvesting winter cereal crops.

The 30day average of the SOI has continued to slowly rise since the start of September and as of the 21st of November was +6.7.

Regions of Queensland that have had an improvement in rainfall probabilities for the November to January period include the coastal strip running from the southern half of the Mareeba shire to the Livingstone and Broadsound shires on the central coast. Parts of the Maroochy, Caboolture, Kilcoy and Esk shires have also had an improvement in rainfall probabilities. These areas all currently have a 60-70% chance of getting above or exceeding the historical median rainfall over November to January. Rainfall probability maps can be found at www.dnr.qld.gov.au/longpdk/

However parts of the Chinchilla, Murilla, Cunnamulla, Quilpie, Barcoo, Longreach and Flinders shires only have a relatively low 30-40% chance of getting or exceeding the median rainfall over the November to January period.

Interestingly given the recent storm activity across much of the state is research that suggests a potential link between a "Rapidly Rising" SOI phase at the end of September (which was the case this year) and an increase in the potential for severe storm activity over summer across southern Queensland and northern NSW.

This section will be up-dated on Wednesday the 28th November.

The full story

Updated on the 31st October

SOI now in "Consistently Near Zero" Phase

The 30day average of the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) was -as of the 31st October.

Based on the movements of the SOI over September/October, the regions of the state that have had an improvement in rainfall probabilities include parts of the Mareeba, Herberton, Hinchinbrook, Dalrymple, Thuringowa, Townsville, Whitsunday, Mackay, Mirani, Nebo, Broadsound, Livingstone, Fitzroy, Maroochy, Caboolture, Kilcoy and Esk shires. These areas all have a 60-70% chance or probability of getting above or exceeding the historical median rainfall over November to January.

However areas of lower rainfall probabilities still exist. These include parts of the Chinchilla, Murilla, Cunnamulla, Quilpie, Barcoo, Longreach and Flinders shires where there is only a 30-40% chance of getting or exceeding the median rainfall over the November to January period. The rest of the western half of Queensland also has low rainfall probabilities at only 40-50%.

For the rest of the eastern section of the state there is a 50-60% chance of getting or exceeding the historical median rainfall over the November to January period.

As always when using probability based forecasts the opposite always applies. For example, if there is a 20% chance of getting above the median rainfall at a location over the next three months there is an 80% chance of getting below it.

During the past couple of months, the 30-50 day oscillation influence on Queensland's rainfall has been hard to identify. It appears to have been an unusually broad phenomenon over during the first couple of weeks of October. We can next expect our atmosphere to be influenced by this oscillation in mid-November.

Although strictly speaking it is a tropical phenomenon, it also appears to influence the timing of rainfall events over southern and central parts of Queensland rather than the actual amount of rain.

For those who like to follow historical patterns more closely years in the past that had a 'Consistently Near Zero' SOI phase for September/October include 1995, 1990, 1985, 1984, 1979, 1978, 1968, 1967, 1966, 1961, 1960, 1959, 1958, 1954, 1949, 1937, 1936, 1933, 1931, 1927, 1926, 1919, 1918, 1912, 1909, 1905 and 1904. What was the rainfall like for the next three months in your area for those years?

Of interest for those looking at the longer term outlook, sea surface temperatures in the far eastern Pacific Ocean are cooler than the long term average. However in the key central equatorial Pacific region SSTs are slightly warmer than normal. It is this region that appears to have most influence on Queenslands weather and climate. SSTs in this region have been warming steadily over the past nine months.

While most of the SST prediction models suggest that a warming trend in the central Pacific will continue the question remains as to how much. Some models suggest the Pacific will remain in a "neutral" state but others still are suggesting the potential for this warming to reach El Niño proportions later this year or early into next.

As the SOI tends to follow sea temperature variability in the central Pacific we recommend that those readers looking to get an early indication of seasonal conditions for early next year keep track of any shifts in the SOI value and SST patterns.

If anyone requires more climate related information have a look at the DPI's climate web site www.dpi.qld.gov.au/climate or feel free to contact me through the DPI Call Centre on 13 25 23. A recorded message with the 30day average of the SOI is also available on 46881439.