Weekly Rainfall Update
for 7 days to 9am 7th February 2012

Weekly Rainfall Map

larger colour map with place names | b/w map | larger b/w map with place names
WA | NT | Qld | NSW/ACT | Vic | SA | Tas
map information | quality control information

Table of Highest Weekly Totals

State Weekly Rainfall Bulletins (updated daily):

Northern WA | Southern WA | NT | Queensland | NSW/ACT | Victoria | SA | Tasmania

The table above lists the highest rainfall totals for each state and territory for the past week. These are based on real-time rainfall reports, and only limited quality control has been performed on the data. Rainfall district names are given in parentheses. Please also note that some station names have been shortened by taking away words such as post office and airport. To view a map of the Bureau of Meteorology rainfall districts click here.

In creating the weekly rainfall map, the rainfall recorded at sites across Australia is analysed onto grids and diplayed as a map. In data-rich areas, such as southeast Australia, or in regions with strong rainfall gradients, such as across mountain ranges, "data smoothing" may occur, resulting in gridpoint values differing from the exact rainfall amounts measured at the contributing stations.

Commentary on Recent Rainfall

For the week ending the 7th of February 2012, rain was primarily recorded in eastern Australia. Most of the rain fell at the beginning of week, as a low pressure trough triggered heavy rain in a band stretching from northeastern NSW to Cape York. An active monsoon trough also contributed to heavy falls in northern Queensland, as well as locally heavy falls in the northern parts of WA and the NT. Ex-Tropical Cyclone Iggy caused moderate falls in southwestern WA mid-week, with a cold front later in the week triggering falls across northern and western Tasmania.

Falls in excess of 100 mm were recorded across a region extending between northeastern NSW and the Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland, as well as in the Darwin region of the NT. Falls were particularly heavy in the Cairns and Weipa regions in Queensland, exceeding 300 mm at numerous stations, with the highest weekly rainfall total of 332 mm recorded at Halifax, south of Cairns. Locally heavy falls also exceeded 200 mm in northeastern NSW, reaching 293 mm at Bowra.

Falls of between 25 and 100 mm were recorded surrounding areas of higher falls, including both northern and eastern Queensland and most of eastern NSW. Falls exceeding 25 mm were also recorded in the Top End of the NT, the Kimberley region in WA, as well as an area surrounding Perth, and in western Tasmania.

Falls of between 5 and 25 mm were recorded across surrounding areas of higher falls, as well as across southwestern WA, eastern Tasmania, and the southern coasts of Victoria and SA. Most of the central and southern parts of Australia recorded little or no rainfall at all.

Impact of Recent Rainfall on Deficits

There was no Drought Statement issued for February, as recent rainfall in southwestern Australia has provided some relief to long-term rainfall deficiencies in the area. See the Drought Statement page for details.

Please Note: The Australian Bureau of Meteorology is not responsible for drought declarations. Drought declarations are the responsibility of the State Governments, and take account of other factors in addition to recent rainfall patterns. Some links to state government departmental web sites are given in the right hand column.