THE Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has predicted a wet summer as a La Niña weather event hits eastern Australia for the third year in a row.

“La Niña events increase the chances of above-average rainfall for northern and eastern Australia during spring and summer,” the BOM said in a statement on Tuesday (September 13).

“Models indicate this La Niña event may peak during the spring and return to neutral conditions early in 2023.”

It will be the first time Australia has experienced three consecutive La Niña events in 20 years.

The event will see the ACT’s bushfire season pushed back from its usual start date of October 1 to November 1 due to the predicted wet conditions.

Emergency Services ACT Commissioner Georgeina Whelan said the official start of the storm season has also been delayed by one month and is set to start on October 1.

“Our team of teams, including ACT Rural Fire Service, ACT State Emergency Service, ACT Fire & Rescue and ACT Ambulance Service, has been working hard to prepare for the hazard season,” said Whelan.

“Now is the time for the community to do their part and prepare their home and families to ensure the ACT is Emergency ready.”

NSW State Emergency Service (SES) Deputy Commissioner Daniel Austin said the SES will ramp up preparations for potential flooding throughout the state.

“As well as recruiting and training new volunteers we’ve also rolled out a range of new assets right across the state including a number of new additional high clearance vehicles,” said Austin.

“We’re also preparing to launch a new warning system at the end of September. The community needs to continue to listen and act when warnings are issued, understand their risk and be prepared for what’s coming over the coming months.”