This outlook uses data from both the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The Indian Ocean is warmer than normal close to Australia. For the Feb-Apr period, the forecast system shows low to moderate skill in north Queensland. The skill is lower elsewhere. This outlook represents a summary only.
More detail is available from the contact people and web sites listed below.
Archive of previous Seasonal Climate Outlooks December 1999 rainfall - Decile Distribution. October to December 1999 rainfall - Decile Distribution. Click on the map for full resolution. Cyclone activity in this region is related to the El Ni o-Southern Oscillation phenomenon, with fewer than normal cyclones during El Ni o episodes, and slightly more during La Ni a episodes. They are not, however, categorical predictions about future rainfall, and they are not about rainfall within individual months of the three-month outlook period.