MOUNT Isa and surrounding including the Gulf Country has only a 30-40 per cent of exceeding average rainfall between November and January 2015.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The North West region is predicted to have a 70 to 80 per cent chance of exceeding its average temperature for the same period.
The bleak forecast was issued by the Bureau of Meteorology yesterday.
Bureau Mount Isa Field Office manager Scott Adams said the outlook was a concern for the drought-ravaged region.
“The seasonal outlooks indicate more likely to be drier than normal and above average temps as well for the November to January period,” he said.
“Although the eastern half looks worse than the North West.”
Mr Adams said the forecast indicated drought conditions were set to continue.
“The odds are for below average rainfall in Queensland for the November to January period and a drier than average wet-season build-up thus far, it is unlikely that long-term rainfall deficiencies in this state will be eased this year,” he said.
“The chance of an El Niño occurring before the end of summer is estimated at 50 per cent; double the normal likelihood.
“So all in all, the run of above average temps and dry conditions look likely to continue for a while yet.”
Mr Adams said a hot and dry start to the summer was likely in the North West.
“October has been hot and dry with the mean maximum temp of 36.7 which is 2 degrees above average of 34.7 and only 1.2 millimetres rain with an average of 19 millimetres,” he said.