Bureau of Meteorology issue La Nina alert

According to the BoM it has raised the El Nino's Southern Oscillation (ENSO) outlook to La Nina Alert. During an El Nino event Australia tends to go through drier than average periods, including drought, where as the country usually sees flooding events when a La Nina event is triggered.

The BoM has said the La Nina alert has been issued due to continued cooling in the tropical Pacific Ocean and an increase in the number of climate models showing sustained La Nina conditions over summer.

"Historically, when La Nia ALERT criteria have been met, La Nia has subsequently developed around 70 per cent of the time," a BoM climatologist said.

According to the spokesperson a 70 per cent chance of an event is approximately triple the normal likelihood.

"La Nina events increase the chances of above-average rainfall for northern and eastern Australia during spring and summer," the spokesperson said.

The BoM have issued the alert after sea surface temperatures in the central tropical Pacific Ocean were neutral, but have cooled over the past three months and are supported by cooler than average waters beneath the surface.

"Some atmospheric indicators, such as the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) and cloudiness near the Date Line, are approaching La Nina levels," the spokesperson said.

"Six of the seven international climate models surveyed by the Bureau meet La Nina criteria from November."

The BoM believes that Climate Change will continue to play a role in the way local weather is playing out with the climate in Australia warming by almost 1.5 degrees Celsius in a century.

"Climate change continues to influence Australian and global climate," the spokesperson said.

"Australia's climate has warmed by around 1.44 °C for the 1910-2019 period. Rainfall across northern Australia during its wet season (October-April) has increased since the late 1990s.

"In recent decades there has been a trend towards a greater proportion of rainfall from high intensity short duration rainfall events, especially across northern Australia."