La Niña cycle set for summer

EXPERTS from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology have said that this summer will be cooler and wetter than normal.

The advice came last week when meteorologists declared the eastern parts of Australian were in a La Niña cycle.

La Niña is the cooler, wetter sister of the El Niño – which is the southern oscillation pattern that typically brings increased temperatures and bushfire danger to Australia.

While we’re unlikely to see a repeat of the 2019-20 summer bushfires, there will instead be a greater risk of damaging tropical cyclones and flooding.

During the last significant La Niña between 2010 and 2012, widespread flooding inundated New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland – which was also hit with the category five tropical cyclone, Yasi.

Fortunately, the BoM does not expect this La Niña to be as bad.

Bureau of Meteorology head of operational climate services Andrew Watkins said this La Niña will probably be weaker than a moderate La Niña that developed last year, but the danger remains.

“A weak La Niña can still bring heavy rainfall at times. With a wet landscape we are at risk of more wide-spread flooding over the summer,” Dr Watkins said.

“It’s shaping up to be a wet and humid end to spring for eastern Australia.”

– BY AAP