Friday 2 November 2007

MEDIA RELEASE

Grim records as dry conditions continue over south east

While La Niña climate conditions are now occurring over the Pacific Ocean and the outlook for rain in the short to medium term has improved, many parts of south eastern Australia continue to suffer from many years of below average rain and above average temperatures.

Large parts of southern and eastern Australia have now experienced dry conditions for 11 years. In some parts the accumulated rainfall deficit since 1996 exceeds the total rain that would normally be expected in an average year.

The Murray Darling Basin has just experienced its equal driest 6-year period on record, receiving lower than average rainfall totals most months since November 2001.

Head of Climate Analysis at the Bureau’s National Climate Centre, Dr David Jones says that the lack of rain has been exacerbated by record high temperatures.

“High temperatures in the Murray Darling Basin have exacerbated rainfall deficiencies. Both daytime maximum and daily mean temperatures for the six years from November 2001 to October 2007 have surpassed previous records by considerable margins,” Dr Jones said.

For the past six years the Murray Darling Basin had an average of 389 mm per year or 2335mm in total. This is approximately 20 per cent below the long term average of 480 mm per year, and the same as the 389 mm per year which fell during the previous record dry six-year period of 1939-1945.

Yesterday the World Meteorological Organization declared that a La Niña has developed, which statistically improves the prospect of rainfall for Australia over the coming months. However, for drought affected parts of the southeast, sustained higher-than-average rainfall over perhaps years is required to make up for the accumulated effects of the current drought.

More information about drought conditions is available in a Special Climate Statement available from: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate

Further information:
Dr David Jones, Head of Climate Analysis, National Climate Centre, Bureau of Meteorology: 03 9669 4085
Dr Michael Coughlan, Head of the National Climate Centre, Bureau of Meteorology: 03 9669 4086

Media assistance:
David Grant, Media Relations Adviser, Bureau of Meteorology, mob: 0439 452 424

Ends