SOI Phase Rainfall Probabilities

Rainfall probabilities based on 'phases' of the Southern Oscillation Index

Recent trends in the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) can be used to calculate more accurately the probabilities of receiving particular amounts of rainfall at a particular location; over the next few months. The phases of the SOI were defined by Dr Roger Stone then of QDPI, who used a statistical technique (cluster analysis) to group all sequential two-month pairs of the SOI (from 1882 to 1991) into five clusters (see legend below & help on use of trends in the SOI).

By using this information we have constructed maps of future rainfall probability.

Reference for the SOI Phase system: Stone, R.C., Hammer, G.L and Marcussen, T. (1996) Prediction of global rainfall probabilities using phases of the Southern Oscillation Index. Nature, 384, 252-255.


Phase data updated .

Latest phase:


Years in history with the same SOI phase during

Chance of exceeding median rainfall in the period from based on a SOI phase during .

Last updated: 6 February 2024