As we enter day two of a long run of hot weather (33 degrees is the forecast maximum for today), the Bureau of Meteorology (The Bureau) has released its long-term forecast for Summer and it is looking hotter than average with average rainfall.

Spring in Lismore was not as dry as expected with 296.4mm falling during the three months. In fact, this was well above the median rainfall for spring which is 228.3mm, although two big storms at the end of September and October at the end of the month recorded 137mm over two days plus a wet November where 146.2mm fell compared to a median of 91.5mm.

You only have to look to the hills to see the typical rolling green grass has returned. This should not change as The Bureau's summer forecast is for average rainfall with the chance of above median (greater than 435mm) sitting at 44%.

While the news is positive for rainfall, it is not so good in terms of maximum temperatures during the next three months. The next seven days will be a familiar trend for the next three months.

Under a La Niña, we have experienced lower than normal maximum temperatures thanks to more cloud cover but under the influence of an El Niño there is a 93% chance of above-average median temperatures (greater than 28.6 degrees) and a 68% chance of an unusually warm summer (greater than 29.6 degrees).

If we are lucky enough to not experience another flood (minor, moderate or major) in December, it will be one of the rare calendar years that Lismore records a zero in the flood column.

Since 2000, there have only been five years where a flood has not been recorded:

• 2002
• 2003
• 2007
• 2018
• 2019

2023 would be number six in the past 23 years.