EXPERTS from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology have said that this summer will be cooler and wetter than normal.<\/p>\n
The advice came last week when meteorologists declared the eastern parts of Australian were in a La Ni\u00f1a cycle.<\/p>\n
La Ni\u00f1a is the cooler, wetter sister of the El Ni\u00f1o – which is the southern oscillation pattern that typically brings increased temperatures and bushfire danger to Australia.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
During the last significant La Ni\u00f1a between 2010 and 2012, widespread flooding inundated New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland – which was also hit with the category five tropical cyclone, Yasi.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, the BoM does not expect this La Ni\u00f1a to be as bad.<\/p>\n
Bureau of Meteorology head of operational climate services Andrew Watkins said this La Ni\u00f1a will probably be weaker than a moderate\u00a0La Ni\u00f1a that developed last year, but the danger remains.<\/p>\n
“A weak La Ni\u00f1a 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.<\/p>\n
“It’s shaping up to be a wet and humid end to spring for eastern Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n
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