The Southeast Coastal Region of Australia was very dry in both DEC-24 and OCT/NOV/DEC-24. Otherwise, precipitation has averaged above normal to excessively wet across many parts of the continent during that time. Helping to aggravate the Coastal Southeast Drought is anomalous warmth during Q4/2024 which became somewhat hotter than normal for East-central and Southeast Australia during DEC-24. The anomalous heat accelerated the drying of soil. Consequently, a massive bushfire regime has developed from Victoria to New South Wales.

Upper ridge pattern evolves across Europe mid-to-late January and supports a warmer reversal in the previous chilly forecast. Additionally, due to the high pressure a somewhat drier than normal climate is forecast for January as storminess shifts to West-central Russia.