Australia is set for wet spring after negative Indian Ocean Dipole declared

Wet weather is set to continue into spring across parts of Australia.

The Bureau of Meteorology today reported a negative Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is underway, which means Australia looks set for a wetter-than-average season for much of southern and eastern Australia.

The IOD is also expected to bring warmer days than usual in northern Australia.

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Head of long-range forecasting Dr Andrew Watkins said the Bureau's three-month climate outlook is for above average rainfall for much of Australia, particularly for the central and eastern states.

"With wet soils, high rivers and full dams, and the outlook for above average rainfall, elevated flood risk remains for eastern Australia", he said.

All climate model outlooks surveyed indicate that negative IOD conditions are likely to continue into late spring, the BoM said in its latest climate driver update.

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According to Weatherzone's Ben Domensino, it is the first time there have been negative IODs in consecutive years since records began in the 1960s.

The BoM said there's still a 50 per cent chance of a La Nina weather system forming later in the year.

The news comes as damaging winds and heavy rain batter parts of Western Australia as a once-in-a-year storm makes landfall.

The storm is expected to last through to Wednesday, lashing Perth and the state's south-west as far north as Geraldton.

A severe weather warning for damaging winds remains in place.