Tag Archives: oceania

headline

'La Niña has a 62 percent chance of persisting through winter'

Those hoping to pack away their umbrellas soon may have to wait a while longer as the La Niña pattern could persist into spring, two new US-led forecasts suggest.

The system, confirmed to have formed over the Pacific on November 23, is behind much of the wet weather soaking the east-coast.

The new modelling was released by Columbia University's International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) and the US Climate Prediction Centre (CPC) last week.

READ MORE: Albanese's 'must-do or we are stuffed' list

Current sea surface temperature anomalies in the Pacific Ocean, showing a distinctive La Niña pattern with cooler-than-average water in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean and warmer-than-average water in the western equatorial Pacific Ocean.

"According to the latest IRI/CPC model forecast, La Niña has a 62 percent chance of persisting through the southern hemisphere winter and a 58 percent chance of occurring in spring," Weatherzone said.

Should the pattern persist as predicted, the likelihood of above-average rain in parts of Australia would increase across winter and spring.

READ MORE: Wet weather lashing at both sides of Australia

The Sydney Harbour Bridge seen through the windscreen of a car as rain pours on the city, Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. The state of New South Wales has seen more than 500 flood rescues and 927 requests for assistance in the past 24 hours as record rain continues to fall across the eastern states of Australia. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

It comes after Sydney was confirmed to have had more wet days than dry ones this year with 94 of 142 recording rain.

Two factors are driving the new forecasts.

READ MORE: Russian officer reveals why he risked it all to quit Putin's war

Average winter-spring rainfall (top) from 13 La Niña years combined, indicating average rainfall and temperature footprints of La Niña.

Sea surface temperatures are "near or exceeding La Niña thresholds in late winter, and secondly, a negative Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)appears to be developing over the coming months.

"A negative IOD also increases the likelihood above-average rain and cooler-than-average daytime temperatures in Australia," Weatherzone said.

"In fact, a number of forecast models suggest that we could see a strong negative IOD this winter and spring."

headline

Small detail during Albanese's first press conference as PM

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made a quiet statement during his first official press conference as leader today.

Before he addressed the room full of media alongside his new cabinet, both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island flags were installed next to the Australian flag.

Albanese then stood alongside deputy Richard Marles, foreign affairs minister Penny Wong, treasurer Jim Chalmers and finance minister Katy Gallagher and gave a short address.

READ MORE: Albanese's 'must-do or we are stuffed' list

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags hanging alongside the Australian flag during Anthony Albanese's first press conference as prime minister.

The new prime minister opened his victory speech on Saturday night by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land he was speaking from.

"And on behalf of the Australian Labor Party, I commit to the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full," he said.

Later in his address, Albanese again promised to "embrace the Uluru Statement from the Heart" – which calls for a permanent forum of representation from which First Nations can advocate for their peoples to the parliament and government.

"We can answer its patient, gracious call for a voice enshrined in our constitution," he said.

"Because all of us ought to be proud that amongst our great multicultural society we count the oldest living continuous culture in the world. And I acknowledge Australia's next Indigenous Affairs Minister, Linda Burney, who is here."