Forecasts predict dry Canberra spring
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Up to 20 millimetres of rain fell around the capital this week. (ABC News )
Canberra could be facing a drier and warmer than average spring if predictions of another El Nino weather event are accurate.
The average rainfall for September is 50 millimetres and the Canberra region has this week received between 15 and 20 millimetres.
But Sean Carson from the Bureau of Meteorology says the outlook for the next few months is not as encouraging.
"We're looking at probably heading back into an El Nino for the end of the year," he said.
"That's favoured by the climate models at this stage and for southern Australia and Canberra that tends to mean we're about a 60 per cent chance of being below average rainfall.
"It doesn't guarantee it, we're still a 40 per cent chance of being above average but the odds are in favour of being drier over the spring months."
But Mr Carson says if the El Nino does occur it may not be as extreme as similar events in the past.
"The indicators are not as strong as they have been in the past," he said.
"That might point that maybe it's a short lived El Nino and probably not as strong as what we saw back in the early 2000s."
Mr Carson says average rainfall for spring is between 50 and 60 millimetres each month.
"The odds are in favour that we'll probably be below that. Which is pretty much on par with what we saw over the winter months," he said.
"The outlook for temperatures is also quite positive that we will be above average.
"So it's looking like a pretty warm spring and a dry one as well."
Follow up rain
Local farmers say this weeks rain has been a good start to spring, putting a green tinge to paddocks around Canberra.
But grazier Andrew Geikie says good follow up rain is desperately needed.
"It's been good and it's certainly turned the place the right colour but there's really no length yet," he said.
"If we can get another 3 inches or something like that, I might sound a bit greedy, but that would be lovely to see."
Dam levels
ACT dam levels have been boosted with nearly 50 millimetres falling in the Cotter catchment.
Marlene Stolt from ACTEW says dam levels are now hovering around 47 per cent.
"Before the last week of rain, inflows into our catchment this year were worse than they were back in 2006," she said.
2006 was the worst year on record.
But Ms Stolt says it is unlikely water restrictions will be tightened in Canberra this summer.
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