Seasonal Climate Outlook Message for July to October 2007

The bottom line

SOI starting to trend upwards. Dave McRae, 30/07/07

The 30day average of the SOI has started to trend in a more favourable direction and as of the 30th July was minus 5.2. Daily updates on the SOI are available on (07) 46881439 or at www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au or you can receive a text message with the latest SOI values sent to your mobile phone. To subscribe to this free service call (07) 46881459.

While negative SOI values are not what we want, there should be little impact as long as the SOI trends upwards before the end of the winter. However rainfall probabilities for our important summer rainfall season will remain low if the SOI remains in negative values.

August and September also have the lowest median monthly rainfall totals for most locations in Queensland. For example median rainfall for August and September at Macknade is 30 mm and 20 mm, Ayr is 2 mm and 1 mm, Mackay is 17 mm and 17 mm, Bundaberg is 26 mm and 25 mm, Kingaroy is 23 mm and 30 mm and Mareeba is 2 mm and 2 mm. Therefore significant rain is not usual during this period.

For those interested a great Australian weather web site well worth a look is www.australianweathernews.com/ It has a lot of weather related information including a 7 day forecast, reports on extreme climate and weather events. A big advantage of this site is that is states where the information used comes from which is not the case with many "weather" sites.

The August to October seasonal outlook will be released Wednesday.