Queensland Weather Forecast?
A VETERAN weather forecaster has told the inquiry into Queensland'sfloods that the January weather system which brought widespread floodingto the state is among the largest he has seen.
Meanwhile there are no guarantees similar weather systems will notreturn next summer, Bureau of Meteorology Queensland regional directorJim Davidson told the Commission of Inquiry in Brisbane this morning.
Atthe resumption of his testimony this morning, Mr Davidson outlined thevarious weather events which contributed the the state's summerdrenching.
He said, had the summer rain stopped after thedissipation of a low pressure system in December, Queensland wouldalready have experienced a significant wet season.
He added a new low pressure system which formed in January had significantly contributed to the continuing big wet.
"Inmy 40 years of forecasting in Queensland, I guess I have yet to see anupper low of this magnitude at that time of year," he said.
Meanwhile weather forecasters will not know until at least lateJuly weather Queensland will experience a repeat of the last summer'sdevastating La Nina pattern next year.
Under cross-examinationfrom Counsel Assisting the inquiry Peter Callaghan QC, Mr Davidson toldthe inquiry it was not uncommon to experience back to back La Ninas.
The last time the phenomenon occurred was during the wet seasons of 2007-08 and 2008-09.
MrDavidson said the weather pattern which brought devastating rains andcyclones to Queensland this summer was currently process of decaying andit was as yet unclear whether similar conditions would prevail nextsummer.
Mr Davidson said the outlook would become clearer during the July, August, September quarter.