Understanding Weather and Climate
The 2006 drought had a combination event of ElNino (Enso), Indian Ocean Dipole positive (Indy) and Southern Annular Mode positive (Sam). The bigger droughts are when the dogs team up at the driest end of their range.
In 2011, Ridgy was well behaved for position but did exert a bit more air pressure than normal over Victoria, this seemed to affect northern Victoria in Winter.
Sam spent some of winter 2011 in his wetter negative phase bringing some more rain south of the Great Divide.
Indy was up to his usual tricks in 2011 and despite a La Nina brewing went into his rain reducing positive phase in September reducing rainfall in many parts of the state.
Like 2010, in 2011/12 Enso came back again over summer with a weak La Nina but unlike 2010 he didn't bring excessive summer rain to Victoria.
Victorian farming communities and businesses know that we have always had fluctuations from wet seasons to dry. Good old fashioned variability.
So what makes the difference between wet seasons and droughts? And how is the climate changing over time?
The Climatedogs were awarded the 2011 SCINEMA prize for Best Short Film. An international prize celebrating films that raise public awareness and trust in science.
Climatedogs
The Climatedogs animation series is an award winning series of short animated videos produced by DEPI. The animations explain what drives the climate in Victoria, and how climate drivers are changing over time.
Introducing Eastie or the East Coast Low
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Eastie represents a key climate feature that can bring heavy rains to eastern Gippsland and the east coast of Australia. Find out more about Eastie. |
Learn more about what drives rainfall in Victoria
To make it rain in Victoria a source of moist air is needed, which mostly comes from the north, followed by local weather conditions to promote rainfall. For example, cold fronts crossing Victoria from the south often trigger rainfall when they meet warm, moist air.
This process is caused by different climate drivers that influence Victoria's wetter or drier years. Climate drivers vary over the months and years to influence our seasonal rainfall. For example, our driest years have been when two or more of these climate drivers have been in their 'dry phase' at the same time.
Click on the following climate drivers to learn more about what drives our wet and dry seasons:
Climate Update
Our climate is variable. Listen to the latest climate update to get up-to-date information on the position of climate drivers and the forecast for weather conditions in Victoria.
