Climate in-brief
/A dry air mass associated with a passing Rossby wave in the eastern Indian Ocean has wreaked havoc with a week ago wetter than normal multi-week forecast (NCEP report 22 Sep);
The SAM index is predicted to plummet into a negative phase in the coming week, creating rainfall opportunities for Southern NSW, while other areas remain hostage to a drier airflow;
30-day SOI has exceeded La Niña thresholds (+9), although the rise in the index has been mainly associated with higher air pressure at Tahiti. The daily index shows this will continue, which is promising;
Multi-week models are favouring rain across southern areas only. All other areas look to mid-October for the drier SAM pattern to break and tropical air masses to realign with La Nina signal and wetter IOD;
A survey of the latest global GCMs shows broad consensus for wetter-than-normal and cooler conditions between October and December; and
New crop research shows sorghum variety selection based on accurate seasonal forecasts can offer benefits to growers.