“Stronger than average” trade winds will further delay the end of La Niña, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) says.
The weather event, confirmed to have formed over the Pacific Ocean by the BoM on November 23, is responsible for Australia’s wet summer of soaking rains.
“Trade winds remain stronger than average in the western Pacific, delaying further weakening of the #LaNiña over the past fortnight,” BoM said.
“Latest outlooks indicate a return to neutral #ENSO levels late in the southern hemisphere #autumn.”
Weatherzone said this is the first time in a decade that Australia had back-to-back La Niña events.
The weather service said the delay in the easing of La Niña increases “the likelihood of above-average rain in northern and eastern Australia during the next few months”.
Broken Hill in western New South Wales was lashed with “periods of torrential rain in storms” yesterday afternoon.
“26mm of rain fell in 30 minutes at #BrokenHill with #thunderstorms earlier this afternoon,” the BoM said as they issued a severe storm warning for the area.
A man was confirmed to have died in floodwaters on Minindee Road 35km east of Broken Hill around 10.30pm last night.
Police were told a 56-year-old man drove into floodwaters, exited his Toyota Landcruiser , and was sucked into a concrete pipe where he became trapped.
Twenty three lives have now been lost in floods across south-east Queensland, northern NSW and Sydney.
Let’s see what the weather is doing around the nation’s capitals.
Melbourne
Showers are also possible in Melbourne, which is instore for a humid 25C day.
BoM said showers will become less likely and partly cloudy in the afternoon.
Winds will tend north to north-easterly at 25 to 35 km/h.Sydney
The mercury will hit 26C in Sydney, which has a medium chance of showers.
One to three mm of rain is forecast.
Canberra
It will be a chilly 11C morning in Canberra before temperatures climb to 23C.
The city has a slight chance of a shower, most likely this afternoon.
Brisbane
Brisbane is in store for a light shower or two and the mercury is tipped to reach 29C.
Showers are most likely in the late morning and afternoon, according to the BoM.
Adelaide
Rain will also be felt in Adelaide, which will reach a maximum temperature of 32C.
The BoM said it will be “dry until a medium chance of showers and a possible thunderstorm from mid afternoon.”
Perth
Perth is in store for a partly cloudy 27C day today.
There’s a slight chance of a shower in the morning and afternoon.
Winds will tend westerly at 20 to 30 km/h, tending south-westerly 15 to 20 km/h in the evening then becoming light in the late evening.
