Residents of Ipswich and the Scenic Rim areas can expect an increased chance of rainfall as well as warmer nights heading into Spring. 

Climate and Agricultural Scientist Chelsea Jarvis said the forecasts, developed on ocean and atmosphere data, showed slightly higher temperatures in Australia’s surrounding oceans.

“Warmer waters in the Coral Sea and Indian Ocean are indicating that there’s more moisture around,” she said. 

“And when that happens there’s an increased chance of rain for us in the South East.” 

Dr Jarvis said Scenic Rim localities could expect October to be the wettest Spring month. 

“In the coming season, September to October, essentially what we’re looking at is an increased chance of exceeding our median rainfall across South East Queensland,” she said. 

 “The median for Boonah is 182mm falling between September and the end of November. 

 “At this point the month of September is looking like it will be roughly average rainfall whereas October is looking a bit wetter and in November it is looking like it might also be a bit wetter than average. 

 “But October is looking like it will be the wettest out of the three.” 

SEQ water grid running low 

 The news of increased rainfall is welcome as the SEQ water grid stands at just 58 percent. 

Seqwater’s July 2021 monthly report revealed residents in South East Queensland could be looking at mandatory water restrictions if dam capacities don’t receive replenishing rainfall in the next three months. 

 However, Dr Jarvis said it was too early to tell if the Spring rainfall would bring the rainfall the region desperately needed. 

“Unfortunately, our seasonal climate forecasts don’t tell us by how much more than the average rainfall we’re likely to get,” she said. 

“At this point there’s no real indication of major flooding or real replenishing rainfall. 

“That stuff can only be predicted about 7 to 10 days in advance. 

“But hopefully we will get enough rainfall this Spring that will help fill up our dams and get those water levels and soil moistures back up.”

Dr Jarvis said it was important to note South East Queensland had a decent rainfall through winter, so the low water supply could point to a higher water demand from the growing population, rather than low rainfall. 

“It’s very interesting, looking at the records from over the winter, most places in SEQ, especially Springbrook, got really decent rainfall,” she said. 

“March delivered huge amounts of rainfall in some areas and it was overall pretty good over winter, so it’s interesting to learn the reservoirs are down so low.”

Average days and hotter night temperatures 

 Dr Jarvis said residents wouldn’t have to fear blistering Queensland heat too much just yet, however overnight temperatures were likely to be slightly above average. 

 “At this point we’re expecting average to slightly lower than average temperatures for our day times with our overnight temperatures looking like they’ll be slightly above average,” she said. 

 “This is due to increased cloud coverage, with the weather forecast it means there will be more clouds in the sky. 

“During the day they’ll [clouds] block the sun so our days will stay a bit cooler. 

“And during the night they trap the heat in so that’s why our nights will stay a bit warmer.”