30 June 2009

MEDIA RELEASE

Melbourne experiences record dry in first half of 2009

Melbourne has had a record dry start to the year, with just 126.2 mm falling from January to June according to Bureau of Meteorology rainfall data. This is 8 mm below the previous record of 134.5 mm set in 1967, and less than half the long-term average of 307mm.

The very dry start to this year extends the long drought which has affected Melbourne and most of southeastern Australia since late 1996.

“The last time Melbourne’s annual rainfall was above average was 1996,” said Dr Stern, Manager of Climate Services at the Bureau’s Victorian Regional Office.

“Over the twelve years of this drought Melbourne has now missed out on 1.8 metres of rain, representing three years of average rainfall,” Dr Stern said.

“It is going to take many years of good rainfall to remove these deficiencies,” he said.

While some welcome showers are expected in Melbourne this week, the seasonal outlook suggests that below average rainfall is more likely than not to continue for the next three months.

“There is about a 60 per cent probability that July to September will experience below average rainfall,” said Dr Stern.

Melbourne’s official rainfall record began in April 1855.

Further information:
Dr Harvey Stern, Manager, Climate Services Centre (Victoria), Bureau of Meteorology, 03 9669 4949.
David Jones, Head of Climate Services, National Climate Centre, Bureau of Meteorology, 03 9669 4085.
Grant Beard, Climatologist, National Climate Centre, Bureau of Meteorology, 03 9669 4527.

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