La Nina results in nation’s wettest summer in four years
The impact of La Nina on the nation’s summer has been revealed, with one key measure almost a third above average in some regions.
Environment
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The impact of La Nina on the nation’s warmer months has been revealed, with Australia splashing through its wettest summer in four years.
The weather bureau announced on Wednesday the summer of 2020-21 brought above average rainfall nationwide and was the wettest since 2016-17.
The La Nina summer also resulted in the third-wettest December since national records began in 1900.
NSW experienced the highest falls above average overall at 29 per cent and its wettest summer since 2011-12.
Most regions, except the far southwest, received above average rainfall, while the mean temperature was also the coolest since 2011-12.
“Greater Sydney temperatures were below average, and rainfall was slightly above average,” the bureau said.
The ACT also had its coolest summer since 2011–12, with temperatures below average and rainfall near average.
The weather bureau said southeast Queensland was the exception and remained dry, with he Burnett district and areas from Capricornia to Wide Bay the only regions to experience below average summer rainfall.
Overall Queensland experienced its wettest summer since 2011-12, with rainfall 8 per cent above the 1961-1990 average.
“So far, this severe weather season (November to April) has seen five tropical cyclones in the Australian region, with one – Tropical Cyclone Imogen – making landfall in the Queensland Gulf Country,” the bureau said.
“There have also been several significant tropical lows that brought heavy rain and some flooding to parts of northern Australia.”
Victoria experienced falls of 14 per cent above average, while it was the state’s coldest summer since 2004-05 for night-time minimum temperatures at 0.18C above the 1961-1990 average.
Most of Western Australia had above average rainfall, and it was particularly wet in the north Gascoyne region and the east of the state.
South Australia had its wettest summer overall since 2016–17 at 14 per cent above the 1961-1990 average, while it was also the coolest summer since 2001-02 for daytime temperatures at 0.48C below the average.
Tasmania was wetter than average across the north of the state but drier than average in parts of the south, while overall it was the wettest summer since 2010-11 at 19 per cent above average.
The Northern Territory also recorded its highest rainfall since 2016-17, which was well above the long-term average.
Senior climatologist Felicity Gamble said models suggested La Nina was likely to break down during autumn with a return to neutral conditions by winter.
“The rainfall signal starts to weaken in April, consistent with the expected decay of La Nina,” she said.
Originally published as La Nina results in nation’s wettest summer in four years
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