Wednesday, 8 January 2003

MEDIA STATEMENT - QUEENSLAND REGIONAL OFFICE

Records tumble during Queensland’s big dry

Queensland has seen one its driest years on record according to the Bureau of Meteorology’s Regional Director (Queensland). Mr. Jim Davidson said that 2002 rainfall totals were well below average over much of the state, with many places recording their lowest annual rainfall since records began.

The drier than normal conditions were evident in areas ranging from the far southwest through to areas traditionally associated with very high rainfalls in the northern tropics.

Mr. Davidson said that places like Babinda (with 2157.6mm) recorded around half its average rainfall of 4211mm. "While rainfall figures of over 2 metres might sound substantial, for places that normally receive more than 4 metres of rain in a year, this is a significant shortfall."

Of reports received to date, the lowest rainfall recorded for the year was at Bedourie Police station in western Queensland, with just 33.4mm. This compares with an average of 180mm. Winton, with 52.6mm, received just 13% of the average yearly rainfall.

Mr. Davidson said "when it comes to rainfall, western areas experience large variations from one year to the next, but this is the driest in 90 years of records from Bedourie, and 119 years at Winton."

Taking Queensland as a whole, 2002 was the driest year since 1919, and the 5th lowest in 113 years.

Mr. Davidson said that there were a number of reasons for the lack of rainfall. "The failure of the last wet season was a major factor. The northern monsoon was much less active than usual, and there were no tropical cyclone impacts on the East Coast, which is unusual in itself. These events bring torrential rain to affected coastal areas, and as rain depressions, can produce widespread rainfall in inland areas".

The southeasterly trade winds, another main source of rainfall for Queensland, have also been weaker than usual said Mr. Davidson. "These winds bring showers onto the east coast, and feed a supply of moisture further inland allowing thunderstorms to develop. In El Nino years, the trade winds tend to break down, making this regular supply of moisture much less reliable than usual".

Further information:

Ann Farrell, tel: (07) 3239 8669
Livio Regano, tel: (07) 3239 8666
Weather by Fax: 1800 630 100 (free call directory)

Climate information: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate

Media Releases: http://www.bom.gov.au/announcements/index.shtml

Record low rainfall for 2002 in Queensland’s big dry

Location

2002 Rainfall (mm)

Average

% of average

Years of record

Babinda PO

2157.1

4210.9

51%

90

Cairns Aero

715.2

1994.1

36%

60

Malanda PO

863.4

1670.3

52%

87

Meringa Sugar Exp Stn

762.3

1859.5

41%

68

Ravenshoe Kuradilla St

593.1

1209.5

49%

71

Daintree Tea

1761.0

3764.4

47%

37

Mt Sophia

1597.0

3358.2

48%

35

Walkamin DPI

470.5

1017.9

46%

38

Hazelmere

681.2

1680.3

41%

30

Tully Sugar Mill

2110.0

4115.4

51%

78

Hecate

587.4

1229.0

48%

43

Broadleigh Downs

217.6

599.1

36%

40

Doongara

306.8

639.0

48%

35

Alpha PO

205.4

560.6

37%

116

Wharton Creek Stn

221.4

622.1

36%

57

Aramac PO

80.5

465.5

17%

123

Longreach Aero

107.0

453.4

24%

48

Ulcanbah

173.0

547.2

32%

60

Winton PO

52.6

406.5

13%

119

Bedourie Police Stn

33.4

184.1

18%

57

Windorah PO

65.3

288.9

23%

116

Rockhampton Aero

360.6

810.8

44%

64

Canungra Finch Road

557.6

1152.0

48%

86

Mt Tamborine Fern St

754.8

1563.2

48%

100

Mt Glorious Fahey Rd

890.1

1644.4

54%

69

Hinze Dam

616.2

1325.5

46%

28

Maroon Dam

514.0

907.6

57%

30

Dunmore State Forest

440.4

723.6

61%

63

Killarney PO

329.6

742.8

44%

114

Pratten

354.6

672.4

53%

102

Ballandean PO

423.2

763.1

55%

36

Glenlyon Dam

486.3

756.4

64%

28

Wombalano

276.9

636.4

44%

32

Namarah

262.4

565.8

46%

38

Cunnamulla PO

123.0

374.0

33%

124

 

2002 Rainfall for selected Queensland locations

Location

2002 rainfall (mm)

Average

% of average

Lowest

Highest

Years of record

Cairns Aero

715.2

1994.1

36%

715.2

3148.8

60

Innisfail

1987.7

3567.1

56%

1775.1

5894.9

108

Ingham

1116.9

2123.1

53%

1105.0

3423.0

31

Townsville Aero

768.2

1135.5

68%

464.2

2399.8

62

Ayr DPI

814.8

959.4

85%

138.4

1624.9

50

Bowen Airport

389.3

889.0

44%

356.9

1750.1

15

Mackay MO

1032.8

1585.5

65%

794.6

2744.7

43

Rockhampton Aero

360.6

810.8

44%

360.6

1631.0

64

Gladstone radar

577.2

887.0

65%

432.5

1731.6

44

Thangool Airport

443.8

665.9

67%

329.1

1216.8

72

Emerald Airport

300.2

516.9

58%

284.1

980.5

11

Clermont PO

260.3

664.8

39%

121.9

1295.4

133

Moranbah Water Treatment

364.8

591.1

62%

280.7

1009.6

30

St Lawrence PO

381.0

1020.5

37%

197.7

1976.1

133

Mt Isa Aero

189.4

446.7

42%

161.1

917.0

36

Longreach Aero

107.0

453.4

24%

107.0

1026.5

48

Winton PO

52.6

406.5

13%

52.6

1171.1

119

Charleville Aero

340.4

489.4

70%

206.4

1025.2

61

Roma Airport

365.7

584.2

63%

365.7

823.6

17

Toowoomba*

646.2

954.4

68%

433.0

931.5

130

Dalby Airport

591.2

646.6

91%

435.4

847.0

11

Warwick*

446.4

689.2

65%

446.4

1091.4

33

Goondiwindi

464.7

630.2

74%

370.6

966.1

12

Bundaberg Aero

756.1

1012.0

75%

488.2

1892.5

45

Maryborbough

1060.4

1148.6

92%

324.5

2247.5

133

Gympie

707.8

1129.2

63%

457.7

2242.9

132

Brisbane Aero*

667.2

1121.0

67%

557.4

2170.0

52

Amberley AMO

617.0

861.5

72%

391.8

1398.1

61

Southport Drury Ave

805.9

1449.8

56%

583.9

2670.3

119

Tewantin*

1174.2

1965.8

60%

510.6

3061.9

106


*figures derived from 2 sites