Seasonal climate summary southern hemisphere (summer 1997/98): warm event (El Niño) continues

Southern hemisphere circulation patterns and anomalies for summer (December-February) 1997/98 are reviewed, with emphasis given to Pacific basin climate indicators and Australian rainfall and temperature patterns. Characteristics associated with a strong negative phase of the Southern Oscillation, as demonstrated by Pacific basin indicators, persisted during summer 1997/98. Above average monsoonal rains were received over tropical Australia despite the warm event, with temperatures generally above normal across Australia. Summer 1997/98 saw the maturing of the 1997/98 El Niño event - slight cooling of the oceans and unusually high rainfall in the tropical north - but no clear signs of an end to the event.