WHILE it may not cause the same euphoria as when it comes after a prolonged drought, farmers in the region will be relieved to receive a good dose of rain this past week.
New winter crops in the ground will get their first good soaking, setting the scene for another good year after what has been a relatively dry April and May.
Most Australians are in for a warmer than average winter, according to the latest seasonal outlook released today by the Bureau of Meteorology.
The Winter Climate Outlook shows night-time temperatures will be warmer than average for the majority of the country. Parts of southern Australia could be drier than average.
Bureau climatologist, Dr Lynette Bettio, said this was consistent with observations from the past 20 years, which show a trend towards drier than average conditions in Australia’s south during autumn and early winter.
“Our climate drivers are currently neutral, meaning we’re not getting El Niño or La Niña bringing particularly dry nor particularly wet conditions to the continent,” Dr Bettio said.
“Warmer ocean temperatures to the north of Australia may increase the moisture available, enhancing rainfall and resulting in a wetter than average dry season across much of northern Australia but as it is dry season, rainfall totals will not be high.
“While some areas of Victoria have missed out on their usual autumn rainfall and could be heading into a dry winter.”
It was the coolest autumn for most of Australia since 2015.
