Seasonal Climate Outlook Message for August to November 2017

Commentary on rainfall probabilities based on 'phases' of the SOI

The monthly value of the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) rose from -9.5 for June to +6.5 for July. According to the SOI Phase system, the SOI is in a ‘Rapidly Rising’ phase.

A map showing the probability of exceeding-median rainfall for the next three-month period (August to October) is available. This map is based on previous years from 1900 to 1998 which, like 2017, had a ‘Rapidly Rising’ phase of the SOI for July (i.e. 1903, 1906, 1912, 1916, 1926, 1928, 1933, 1936, 1939, 1943, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1954, 1960, 1963, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1985, 1988 and 1995). This map indicates a 50 to 70 per cent probability of exceeding median August to October rainfall for most of Queensland.

When using a climate outlook it should be remembered that the probability, or per cent chance, of something occurring is just that – a probability. For example, if there is a 70 per cent probability of exceeding median rainfall, then there is also a 30 per cent probability of below-median rainfall. It does not mean that rainfall will be 70 per cent more than the median.

Furthermore, while climate outlook schemes cannot provide outlooks with absolute certainty, users who follow a skilful scheme should benefit from doing so in the long-term. Thus, users should consider the historical track record of any scheme, and such information is becoming increasingly available.

The Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation (DSITI) also provides outlooks for the summer period (November to March). The outlooks for summer rainfall are based on conditions leading up to summer, including the state of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon and factors which alter the impact of ENSO on Queensland rainfall (i.e. the more slowly changing extra-tropical sea-surface temperature (SST) pattern in the Pacific Ocean). The DSITI Monthly Climate Statement for August 2017 is available.