After the rare three consecutive years of La Nina which brought a wetter climate, the region is moving towards a warmer season with the El Nino phase for 2023. Photo: iStock/Macier 3 Photography.
The Riverina welcomed a warm first day of winter with the Australian Bureau of Meteorology predicting a warmer and drier than average season ahead for the region.
Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) senior climatologist Hugh McDowell said the Riverina could expect warmer and drier than average conditions with a greater chance of low average rainfall and cooler than average nights.
“Maximum temperature this winter will probably be more warmer than last winter but the minimum temperature might be cooler or similar,” Mr McDowell said.
“There’s going to be unusually dry conditions across the Riverina this winter.”
The BoM announced the unusually dry forecast for the next three months was being influenced by several factors which included the warming in the tropical Pacific Ocean towards El Nino thresholds, potential development of a positive Indian Ocean Dipole, and record warm oceans globally.
It’s safe to say La Nina is officially over after it brought three consecutive years of wetter conditions for the region.
The senior climatologist said that for autumn the region experienced below average minimum temperatures and slightly above average rainfall.
Wagga recorded 195.6 mm of rainfall this autumn, above the long-term average of 137 mm. The coldest day was in May – a chilly -2.2 degrees Celsius – and the warmest day was in March with 39.9 degrees Celsius.
Griffith had a total of 56.8 mm of winter rain. The coldest day was in May (-2.3), and the warmest day was in March at a balmy 41.9 degrees Celsius.
Despite the predicted drier season, Riverina will experience some rainfall next week. Wagga is expected to have a low to high chance of rainfall on Saturday and Monday through Thursday. Griffith is expected to experience similar rainfall from Monday to Thursday.
The forecast for the weekend and the week ahead is:
Wagga
Saturday – Min 9, Max 20
Sunday – Min 8, Max 19
Monday – Min 10, Max 17
Tuesday – Min 10, Max 17
Wednesday – Min 9, Max 18
Thursday – Min 9, Max 16.
Griffith
Saturday – Min 9, Max 24
Sunday – Min 8, Max 22
Monday – Min 10, Max 17
Tuesday – Min 9, Max 19
Wednesday – Min 9, Max 20
Thursday – Min 9, Max 19
Visit the BoM for the updated weather forecast for Wagga Wagga and Griffith.
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