BOM climate outlook, spring 2022: Soggy weather predicted for eastern half of Australia

There is a strong, 80 per cent, chance of above average rainfall for Queensland, NSW, Victoria and much of Tasmania, South Australia and the Northern Territory during the three-month period.

"In eastern Australia, where catchments are wet and streamflows are already high, the wet outlook means the risk of flooding remains," BOM hydrologist Dr David Wilson said.

"Higher than average stream flows are expected to continue across most of the eastern mainland and northern Tasmania."

The first rains of the northern Australia wet season, are likely to be earlier than normal for much of Queensland and the Northern Territory.

In contrast, parts of Western Australia and Tasmania will be relatively dry with some areas only having a 25 per cent chance of exceeding median rainfall levels.

The spring outlook also shows a high chance of warmer than average days across most of the tropical north and the west coast and Tasmania.

"Cooler days are very likely in large parts of the mainland," Dr Wilson said.

A La Nina alert is in place, with a chance of a La Nina event this spring now at 70 per cent.

"This usually results in more rain for eastern Australia and an earlier start to the northern wet season," Dr Wilson said.

In the west, an Indian Ocean dipole event is underway which also increases the chance of spring rain.

IN OTHER NEWS

In the south a positive southern annular mode is likely, this pushes weather systems south and will lead to wetter easterly winds for NSW, but fewer cold fronts for western Tasmania.

The Australian seasonal bushfire outlook shows there is above normal fire potential for parts of Western and central Australia.

In some eastern areas of NSW and Victoria and a below normal fire potential.