The Australian Bureau of Meteorology is warning residents in the north of the country to be on alert for a greater possibility of cyclones developing and potential flooding in coming months, as the region enters its third La Niña wet season in a row. The northern wet season officially began on Saturday and while it normally begins with a slow and steamy build-up, forecasts are showing more rain is on the way this week.
Last month the Bureau of Meteorology declared a La Niña in the Pacific Ocean, meaning much of the country can expect a rainy end to 2022.
The weather bureau's NT hazard preparedness and response manager Shenagh Gamble: "[La Niña], combined with the ongoing Indian Ocean Dipole, which has been affecting the Northern Territory since about June this year, definitely contributes to a warmer and wetter build up period here."
La Niña doesn't just bring rain. Ms Gamble said that both the IOD and La Niña are also "associated with a higher number of tropical cyclones across the Australian region".
The BOM will launch its 2022-23 cyclone outlook next week, ahead of the start of the official cyclone season which runs from November 1 to April 30.
Source: abc.net.au