Seasonal climate summary southern hemisphere (autumn 2004): continued neutral ENSO conditions, near-normal broadscale ocean and atmospheric conditions

Southern hemisphere circulation patterns and associated anomalies for the southern hemisphere autumn 2004 are reviewed, with emphasis given to the Pacific Basin climate indicators and Australian rainfall and temperature patterns. Most broadscale climate indicators were near climatological normals during autumn 2004, with few large anomalies reported in either ocean or atmospheric conditions. In particular, the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) remained in a neutral state during autumn 2004. In general, it was a rather dry season in much of eastern Australia, especially the southeast inland, and a rather wet season in most of Western Australia away from the southwest. Temperatures were slightly above normal, with the strongest anomalies in Queensland and, for maximum temperatures, New South Wales.