Seasonal climate summary southern hemisphere (summer 1988-89): a peak in the cold episode in the equatorial Pacific

The climate features of the southern hemisphere summer 1988-89 are summarised giving particular attention to the Australian region. The cold episode in the eastern equatorial Pacific, which had been building up in the winter and spring of 1988, reached a peak about early summer and then weakened temporarily. At mid-latitudes conditions were chiefly warmer than normal, while at mid to high latitudes there was a general tendency towards more normal circulation patterns. However, blocking activity was above normal in the Tasman Sea - New Zealand region in January and February. Southern Africa received above average summer rains, but in South America, northern Argentina was abnormally dry. Australian rainfall was chiefly average.