<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Millions of people in eastern Australia hoping the recent downpour is behind them are set to be disappointed, with weather forecasters predicting an unusually wet spring.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Abnormally warm sea temperatures around the country will raise the chance of further downpours, thunderstorms and possibly flooding when the new season begins next month, </span><a href="https://www.weatherzone.com.au/news/wet-spring-on-the-way-for-large-parts-of-australia/1890796" rel="" target="_blank" title="Weatherzone "><span>Weatherzone</span></a><span> reports.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Soaring temperatures and increased storm activity are regular features of spring ahead of the northern wet season, but other factors are at play this year.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/man-arrested-over-death-of-two-people-in-mount-waverley/f264d0ad-93c6-44b1-9a44-b7997ea6b9e3" target="_blank"><strong><span>Gruesome scene as victims of horror double murder identified</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They include a negative Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) expected to emerge to the north-west of Australia over coming weeks.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A negative IOD would see ocean surface temperatures in the Indian Ocean drive moisture-heavy air towards mainland Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They typically cause above-average rain over the nation's south and south-east.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/australia-weather-update-wet-spring-forecast/19b0e00e-66dc-4f54-b356-6d21b9e5977d" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ocean temperatures around Australia are also expected to be warmer than average during spring.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"These relatively warm waters will help supply additional atmospheric moisture for rain and clouds over the Australian continent this spring," Weatherzone said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/police-operation-at-sydney-airport-man-arrested/373e6fba-44c9-4bc7-8f37-71534e3e304f" target="_blank"><strong><span>Dramatic arrest as Aussie airport temporarily locked down</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Forecasters are hedging their bets on whether a La Nina or El Nina weather pattern will develop, instead predicting a "neutral phase" in coming months.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While eastern parts of Australia are set for damp conditions, an abnormally dry spring is expected for some northern and western parts.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The lack of rain could be accompanied by warmer-than-average daytime temperatures.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Some forecast models even suggest that mean maximum temperatures will be in the top 20 per cent of historical records this spring across parts of northern Australia," Weatherzone said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"These abnormally warm temperatures may help enhance bushfire activity in the final months of the dry season."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But for much of southern and eastern Australia, the mercury during the day will be driven down by increased cloud cover.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Temperatures are still expected to rise during spring in the build-up to summer, but the daytime will feel unseasonally cooler in many regions.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a 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