Western Australians can hold off reaching for the winter coat, with unseasonally dry and warmer temperatures forecast until the end of May.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) says the nation can expect “above average” daytime temperatures during the coming months following “serious rainfall deficiencies” since January.

“There is an increased chance of below average rainfall for parts of the South-West and South-East for major July.”

BOM also predicts a “drier than usual” period from May to July across most of the country.

Murdoch University environmental scientist Joe Fontaine said that the summer of 2023 to 2024 was of record length, heat, and in its dry climate, with no rain until the end of May.

“If the environment doesn’t have enough rainfall to recharge, there will be a harsher impact in the summer,” Mr Fontaine said.

“It’s like running a marathon and you get told you have to run a few more miles.”

Experts say the drier weather has been caused by a positive shift in the Southern Annular Mode (SAM), which refers to the unusual shift north or south of the Roaring 40’s and Furious 50’s winds over the Great Australian Bight.

“The Southern Annular Mode plays an important role in driving Australia’s climate.

Winter is the time that has the greatest impact across Southern Australia.”

In an explanatory video, BOM say that a positive shift refers to when these winds move south, causing the usual cool fronts and rainfall to bypass South-Western Australia and instead fall over the Eastern States.

This continued low rainfall in WA has resulted in a trickle-down effect on elements such as below average soil moisture and water storage levels statewide.

“In the south, many [water] storages remain below 50 percent at the start of the Southern growing season.”

The Bureau of Meteorology will release its winter outlook forecast at the end of this month.