Climate in-brief
/Moisture levels and cloudiness remains high to Australia’s north with the Northern Coral Sea very warm, albeit with MJO forecast to appear in the Indian Ocean, away from Australia in the coming week.
Very little in the way of cyclone activity expected in the coming fortnight, as waters cool to Australia’s north
The Southern Annular Mode is maintaining its good form in moderately positive (wet) phase and predicted to remain so, - assisting moisture flow through NSW and S Qld areas.
Multi-week models showing split fortunes for tropics and mid-latitudes, with some caution for large areas of Qld through January. On the other hand, consensus shows continued moisture for much if NSW and SE Qld over the coming 4 weeks.
Temperatures to remain around normal or cooler throughout January, consistent with increased cloud cover and influence of the current La Nina.
The chart above shows higher-than-normal air pressure in Southern Australia for the last 30-days and lower air pressure to the NW.
Australian daily and weekly rainfall observations
Some handy falls confined to the coast and ranges in the last day or so. Click on the link for an updated map. http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/flood/?ref=ftr
Weekly rain shows some fantastic falls across the tropics, with the belated arrival of the much-touted 2020 la nina! the NSW north coast and ranges of NSW still in the storm track over xmas, along with the norther Territory and Western Australia.
Australian 7-day rainfall map courtesy http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/maps/rainfall/?variable=rainfall&map=totals&period=week®ion=nat&year=2020&month=12&day=17