Issued on 3 May 2001
Further worsening of W.A. rainfall deficits
The Bureau of Meteorology announced today that below average rainfall during April caused a worsening of the rainfall deficiencies in southwestern W.A. There was little change in a smaller and less intense region of deficits in southeast Queensland.
13-month rainfall deficiencies
The period of severe rainfall deficiencies in Western Australia has now extended to 13 months after April rainfall was less than 20% of the long-term average across much of the southwest. For the period from April 2000 to April 2001, deficits exist in southern Western Australia in a band stretching from near Carnarvon in the north, to Albany and Esperance in the south. A large area in the south of the affected region has recorded lowest on record for this particular 13-month period.
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15-month rainfall deficiencies
Deficiencies for the 15 months from February 2000 to April 2001 remain in southeast Queensland over a region of the Darling Downs stretching northwest from Warwick. April rainfall in this region was generally close to the long-term average which meant there was little change in the affected area.
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