Big change to weather in 2018
Despite a heatwave currently sweeping across parts of Australia, the rain-bringing La Nina event will see 2018 experience much cooler temperatures in most areas.
This week, the low-intensity heatwave is expected to engulf Brisbane, northeast and central Queensland, parts of NSW, Tasmania and inland parts of Western Australia.
In Western Australia, from Thursday to Sunday temperatures will soar in the Pilbara district.
In NSW, the heatwave will last from Thursday to Sunday in large parts of the state.
Once the heatwave subsides, the next three months will be followed by wetter and cooler than average temperatures due to a La Nina event.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has signalled the La Nina alert, saying there is three times the normal chance of the event which generally brings above average rainfall.
BOM senior hydrologist Dr Paul Feikema said, “While La Nina looks likely during summer, it’s expected to be short-lived and have less effect on rainfall and temperatures than recent La Nina events.”
The 2010 to 2012 La Nina brought significant rain to large parts of Australia.
Due to the event, temperatures will be cooler in the last two months of summer compared with the hot start at the end of 2017.
The parts of Australia that are expected to be unaffected by the La Nina are far south-western and southeastern Australia, including Tasmania.