The Bureau of Meteorology has today raised its La Nina Alert status, the strongest indication yet that Australia is headed for an extended period of wet weather.
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By increasing to Alert status, it mean the chance of a La Nina occurring this year has increased to 70 per cent, roughly three times the normal likelihood.
The Bureau's Manager of Climate Operations, Dr Andrew Watkins, said La Nina typically results in above-average winter-spring rainfall for Australia, particularly across eastern, central and northern regions.
"It typically also brings cooler and cloudier days, more tropical cyclones, and an earlier onset of the first rains of the wet season across the north," Dr Watkins said.
The last significant La Nina event was in 2010-11, which was the Australia's wettest two-year period on record beating the previous record from the La Nia years of 1973-74.
The last time the Pacific Ocean approached La Nina conditions was in late 2017, but thresholds were only briefly exceeded.
"The cooling of surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean and an increase in the strength of the Pacific Trade Winds indicates the chance of La Nina has risen," Dr Watkins continued.
"When these two changes occur at the same time, at this time of year, we see a greatly increased chance of a La Nina forming and persisting through spring.
"Climate models suggest that further ocean cooling and intensification of Trade Winds may occur over the coming months, which has triggered the Bureau to shift from a La Nia Watch, issued on 26 June, to a La Nina Alert."
The Bureau will continue monitoring the situation closely.
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