Thunderstorms persist in ACT, so why is this El Nino summer so wet?

“The presence of a positive SAM, combined with very high temperatures in the Tasman Sea, likely contributed to rainfall events in eastern Australia in December and January. It is unusual to see a persistently positive SAM during El Nino, as that is more typical during a La Nina phase. The widespread and regular rainfall across southeastern Australia across multiple months is similarly unusual for El Nino,” the Bureau said.