Eastern states of Australia to cop ‘above-average rainfall’ in third La Nina event in a row

Victorians are being warned of wild weather ahead after the Bureau of Meteorology declared a La Nina event for the third straight year.

Victoria has been told to prepare for another wet spring and summer as the Bureau of Meteorology confirms a La Nina event for eastern parts of the country.

The Bureau confirmed the weather system has developed in the Pacific Ocean and that the eastern states of Australia should be prepared for “above-average rainfall”.

The third La Niña event in a row will add to the extraordinary levels of rainfall recorded so far this year, providing little relief for suffering farmers and communities.

Bureau of Meteorology head of long-range forecasts Dr Andrew Watkins said the conditions out at sea will impact the spring and summer outlook.

La Nina has been declared for eastern parts of Australia. Picture: David Caird

“During La Niña events, waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean are cooler than normal, and waters in the western tropical Pacific Ocean warmer than normal,” he said.

“This causes changes in wind, cloud and pressure patterns over the Pacific. When this change in the atmosphere combines with changes in ocean temperature, it can influence global weather patterns and climate, including increasing rainfall over large parts of Australia”.

Dr Watkins said the severity of the weather event would be likely weak to moderate in strength, peaking in spring and easing in summer.

“La Niña is not the only driver influencing this wet outlook. To our west, a significant negative Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) event is underway. We expect the IOD influence will reduce in late spring or early summer,” he added.

With many rivers and catchment areas already full from a catastrophic wet season across eastern Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, farmers will be holding their breath as they attempt to recover from damaging floods that wiped out thousands of crops.