Meteorologist warns Australia could experience historic third La Niña next summer

It was William Shakespeare who wrote: “Now is the winter of our discontent”.

Well Australia, prepare for those dreary feelings to carry on from the colder months into the summer as it looks like La Niña is here to stay.

Aussies are currently counting down the days to ditch the cozy winter strands for stuffed animals and beach hair.

Although the Bureau of Meteorology said La Niña was finally gone at the end of June, it seems it could rear its ugly head once again to put a damper on our Australian summer.

If the cold-hearted mole does return to ruin the summer, it would be La Niña’s third late resurgence since 1950.

Sky News Weather’s lead meteorologist Tom Saunders reckons this could happen due to increasing trade winds in the western Pacific.

This could create an on-flow effect that could result in another summer of La Niña literally raining down on our parade.

According to news.com.au, five out of seven global models have predicted La Niña will return by November because she’s one whore who just won’t give up.

“Because these trade winds are easterly and because they are stronger than normal in this area, it can cause the ocean to be upwelled,” Saunders told news.com.au.

A picture of La Niña ruining the summer. Credit: Arterra Picture Library/Alamy

This can cause ocean temperatures to cool, which can trigger the return of La Niña as everything moves east and into the central equatorial Pacific.

This, in turn, can push warmer water down under, creating the perfect storm for more rain.

“This is the key area driving the entire phase of [El Nino-Southern Oscillation] cycle and that can change weather patterns around the world,” Saunders said, according to news.com.au.

However, should the icy temptress La Niña return to the Australian shore, at least our unwanted friend is bringing friends with her.

It will likely be accompanied by a different weather system that would bring with it an increased chance of rain and lower temperatures.

While La Niña is showing signs of coming back, a negative dipole in the Indian Ocean (IOD) also appears to be forming.

These two are besties as they both bring cooler weather and more rain.

The dynamic duo usually leads to the wettest weather ever. Great, just great.

“2010 was the last time we had this double negative IOP and La Nina and that was Australia’s fourth wettest year on record and our wettest spring on record,” Saunders said, according to news.com.au.

He also said below-average summer temperatures are likely. Yay.

Hopefully La Niña and her friends will skip the party this summer.

About Mike Crayton

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