As parts of the country recover from unprecedented levels of rain, there’s little comfort in the long-range forecast, with Australians told to brace for potential cyclones and even more flooding.
In its outlook for 2022 -23, the Bureau of Meteorology is warning there is an increased risk of tropical cyclones, tropical lows and major flooding across northern and eastern Australia.
“This season, we have a greater than 70 per cent chance of at least 11 tropical cyclones which is the long-term average impacting the Australian region,” Senior Meteorologist Jonathan How said.
“Communities are urged to prepare now as there is an increased chance that the first tropical cyclone in the Australian region is likely to be earlier in the season.”
The Bureau expects normal bushfire potential in eastern states, but an elevated risk of grass fire in southern Australia during the October to April cyclone season.
There is also an increased risk of prolonged heatwaves in southern areas with higher humidity.
While there’s a normal risk of severe thunderstorms, there’s a possible increase in thunderstorm asthma events.
Those events are triggered by storms after high grass growth in southern Australia, usually between October and December, when pollen levels are highest.
Northern Tasmania, Northern Victoria and Southern NSW have been warned of potential major flood risks.
Despite fewer tropical cyclones in recent years, Australia has never had a season without at least one tropical cyclone crossing the coast, since records began in the early 1970s.
© AAP 2022
