Seasonal climate outlook message for February to April 2020

Commentary on rainfall probabilities based on 'phases' of the SOI

The monthly value of the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) was +0.7 for January, rising from -6.7 in December. According to the SOI Phase system, the SOI is in a ‘Rapidly Rising’ phase.

A map showing the probability of exceeding median rainfall for the next three-month period (February to April) based on a ‘Rapidly Rising’ phase of the SOI over December and January is available. This map is based on previous years from 1889 to 2015 which, like 2020, had a ‘Rapidly Rising’ phase of the SOI for January (i.e. 1901, 1902, 1920, 1930, 1931, 1935, 1937, 1940, 1953, 1954, 1963, 1967, 1968, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1996, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2013 and 2014). This map indicates a 40 to 60 per cent (near-normal) probability of exceeding median February to April rainfall for much of Queensland.

Readers should note that seasonal outlooks are stated in terms of probabilities. For example, an outlook may be stated as ‘a 50 to 70 per cent probability of exceeding median rainfall’. Such a statement should be interpreted as also meaning a 30 to 50 per cent probability of below median rainfall. In cases where outcomes with a high probability may be more likely, this does not mean that less probable events will not occur in any given year. 

Users should also note that the SOI in summer has low reliability as an indicator of rainfall for the autumn season. 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 Science and Technology Division of 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 pattern in the Pacific Ocean). The DES Monthly Climate Statement for February 2020 is now available.