Issued on 5 September 2001
Statement on Drought for the 4, 6 & 9-month periods ending 31st August 2001Deficiencies ease in SE Australia, remain in W.A.
The Bureau of Meteorology announced today that above average August rainfall eased or eliminated short term rainfall deficiencies in southern Victoria. Further decent falls in parts of southern W.A. also helped to ease the situation, however large areas continued to experience significantly dry conditions.
6-month rainfall deficiencies
The first map shows the regions in southern and western W.A. that have serious to severe deficiencies for the six-month period from March to August. In some places, totals were the lowest on record for this particular period. Much of this area also experienced rainfall deficiencies during the 2000 growing season as well. Above average falls in August gave more relief to the area near Esperance.
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4-month rainfall deficiencies
Rainfall was above to very much above average in August across Tasmania and southern Victoria and this resulted in the removal of most of the deficiencies that had developed since May. However, much more rain is needed to make a strong impact on water storages that are severely depleted after nearly five years of generally below average rainfall.
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9-month rainfall deficiencies
There was little change in the pattern of Queensland rainfall deficits which are largely a reflection of poor summer rains. For the nine months from December 2000 to August, serious to severe rainfall deficiencies exist in southern Queensland coastal districts from Marlborough to Gympie and in an adjoining area stretching from Roma to Gladstone.
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