Parts of Australia suffer drought and low rainfall as La Niña and climate change create weather extremes

Northern Australia has experienced well below average rainfall, as well as Tasmania, south-east SA, most of Victoria and parts of WA. Photograph: Richard Smith/Getty Images

The wet season is unusually dry in northern Australia while other parts of the country struggle through the effects of drought, as climate change means more extreme heatwaves and floods simultaneously.

The Bureau of Meteorology data shows that in the past month, as heavy rain has hit south-east Queensland and coastal New South Wales, northern Australia has experienced well below average rain.