Seasonal climate outlook message for January to March 2018
Commentary on rainfall probabilities based on 'phases' of the SOI
The monthly value of the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) was +10.4 for November and -2.6 for December. According to the SOI Phase system, the SOI is in a ‘Rapidly Falling’ phase.
A map showing the probability of exceeding median rainfall for the next three-month period (January to March) is now available. This map is based on previous years from 1900 to 1998 which, like 2017, had a ‘Rapidly Falling’ phase of the SOI for December (i.e. 1908, 1912, 1918, 1934, 1935, 1940, 1943, 1948, 1952, 1972, 1976 and 1995). This map indicates a 50 to 70 per cent probability of exceeding median January to March rainfall for most of Queensland. However, the probability of exceeding median January to March rainfall is higher than 70 per cent for some inland parts of Queensland and lower than 50 percent for some south-eastern parts of the state.
When using a climate outlook it should be remembered that the probability, or per cent chance, of something occurring is just that – a probability. For example, if there is a 70 per cent probability of exceeding median rainfall, then there is also a 30 per cent probability of below-median rainfall. It does not mean that rainfall will be 70 per cent more than the median.
Furthermore, while climate outlook schemes cannot provide outlooks with absolute certainty, users who follow a skilful scheme should benefit from doing so in the long-term. Thus, users should consider the historical track record of any scheme, and such information is becoming increasingly available.
The Department of Environment and Science (DES) provides outlooks for the summer period (November to March). The outlooks for summer rainfall are based on conditions leading up to summer, including the state of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon and factors which alter the impact of ENSO on Queensland rainfall (i.e. the more slowly changing extra-tropical sea-surface temperature (SST) pattern in the Pacific Ocean). The DES Monthly Climate Statement for January 2018 is now available.
