Southeast Australian rainfall outlook

Issued 23 October 2013

Drier season more likely for northern NSW


  • A drier than normal season is more likely for most of northern NSW
  • The chances of a wetter or drier than normal season are roughly equal over the remainder of southeast Australia
  • Climate influences include locally warm sea surface temperatures around most of Australia, and a neutral tropical Pacific
  • Outlook accuracy is moderate over most of NSW and Victoria and weak across most of SA
Probability of exceeding median rainfall, large image


The chances of exceeding the median rainfall during November to January are 30 to 40% over northern NSW and northeast SA. In other words, the chances of below average rainfall are 60 to 70% over these areas. So, for every ten November to January outlooks with similar odds to these, about three or four of them would result in above-average rainfall over these areas, while about six or seven would be below average.

The chance of receiving a wetter or drier than normal November to January period is roughly equal (i.e., close to 50%) over the remaining areas of southeast Australia.

Climate influences

The tropical Pacific has remained ENSO-neutral since mid-2012. Dynamical models surveyed by the Bureau suggest ENSO-neutral conditions are likely to persist at least for the remainder of spring and summer. This means there is no strong shift in the odds from the tropical Pacific in this outlook.


With the main climate influences likely to remain neutral (and hence have lesser impact upon Australia), secondary influences, such as warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures around Australia are tending to drive the Australian climate patterns.

How accurate is the outlook?

Outlook accuracy is related to how consistently the oceans and broadscale climate affect Australian rainfall. During the November to January period, historical accuracy shows the outlook to be moderately consistent over NSW and Victoria. Over most of South Australia outlook is weakly to very weakly consistent.