Atmospheric and oceanic conditions in the southern hemisphere are reviewed for the 2003/04 austral summer season. Particular emphasis is given to the Australian and Pacific regions. The neutral conditions in the tropical Pacific which arose after the end of the El Niño of 2002/03 persisted through the summer, although there was considerable fluctuation in some atmospheric indices. Sea-surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific were generally above average for the time of year, particularly so in the west. The tropical Indian Ocean was also generally warmer than average. Summer rainfall across Australia was generally near-average or above average. Apart from some areas in the tropical north, summer temperatures were generally above average with respect to the 1961/90 base period, with significant areas in the eastern half of the country having record high seasonal minimum temperatures.
R.J.B. Fawcett (Wed,) studied this question.