ENSO is the dominant mode of climate variability for much of northern Australia. Here we quantify the impact of ENSO phases on rainfall across the north discussing the seasonal variations. These relationships are presented with reference to the changing needs of the grazing industry throughout the year. We identify the known decision points of the industry and the gaps in forecast skill that would aid the risk reduction of these decisions.

This research is the first part of a combined CSIRO-Bureau of Meteorology Postdoc Research position on actionable climate knowledge through northern Australia.