THE coming month is looking like it may continue to give the Southern Downs some more drier weather with heat still hanging around. March is historically, a wetter month but this year, the weakening El Nino is not allowing moisture to build.
The current outlook reflects a combination of a weakening El Nino, very warm Indian Ocean temperatures and warm sea surface temperatures near Australia. This may allow a cyclone to form in the Coral Sea later in the month as the sea temperatures continue to hold. Over eastern Australia, the cold front events with potential to bring
rain are expected about 20 March to 24 March, 27 March to 31 March, 3 April to 7 April.
Rain events originating in the tropics and moving south are possible about 23 March to 27 March.
In summary, it is going to be a warmer than average and drier than average month.
Starting this Friday, there is a Severe Weather Exhibition on at the Warwick Art Gallery. Severe weather chasers, Chris McFerran, Caralee Mirfin and Stephen Reid will have their amazing photos on display while I will have a projector display of my photos.
This exhibition will display the severe weather that can be experienced around the Southern Downs. Chris McFerran will open the event on behalf of Higgins Stormchasing at the Warwick Art Gallery on Friday 11 March at 6.30pm.
– Terry West
