Australians can expect a drier and warmer winter this year with unusually low rainfall predicted for most of the country.
The Bureau of Meteorology is suggesting Aussies will experience less rain and higher daytime temperatures than usual from June to August.
It follows a wet April with above average rainfall for central and western parts of Australia thanks to Tropical Cyclone Ilsa.
In southern parts of the country including south-east NSW, most of Victoria and northern Tasmania there's a greater than 80 per cent chance of below median rainfall.
Winter daytime temperatures are expected to be warmer than usual for most of the country.
Parts of Victoria, NSW, South Australia and western WA are more than four times as likely to experience unusually high maximum temperatures, according to the Bureau.
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But the nights could be cooler for large regions of southern Australia in June.
Why winter may be drier this year
The Bureau says there is the chance of unusually low rainfall for much of Australia this winter.
This is being influenced by signs of El Nino forming.
A current El Nino watch means there is a 50 per cent chance of it happening this year.
As well as reducing rainfall, the event typically increases the risk of frost and fire danger in Australia south-east.
The winter rain could be further suppressed by a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) event which is also possible this winter.
The IOD relates to the sea surface temperature of the Indian Ocean and a positive event is often associated with El Nino.
