Issued on 5 November 2001
Deficiencies ease in Victoria, persist in W.A. and Queensland
The Bureau of Meteorology announced today that above average October rains helped ease rainfall deficiencies in southern Victoria. However, there was little change to the patterns of deficiencies affecting southeast Queensland and the west of Western Australia.
8-month rainfall deficiencies
Large regions in southern and western W.A. have serious to severe deficiencies for the eight-month period from March to October. There was some slight easing in areas north of about Geraldton following above average falls in October, but average to below average October rainfall further south meant the pattern was generally unchanged through this region. Totals were the lowest on record for this particular period near the far southwest corner of the State, and to the east of Carnarvon. Most of western and southern W.A. also experienced rainfall deficiencies during the 2000 southern growing season.
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11-month rainfall deficiencies
There was little change in the pattern of Queensland rainfall deficits which reflect continued below average falls following poor summer rains. For the eleven months from December 2000 to October, serious to severe rainfall deficiencies affect most coastal areas from St. Lawrence to Brisbane, as well as a broad sweep of country centred on a line from Roma to Gladstone. Southeast Queensland also experienced well below average rainfall last year.
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Rainfall deficiencies have waxed and waned across southern Victoria in recent months with heavy October rain following a dry September. As a result, deficits near and to the east of Melbourne eased significantly for the period beginning in May. However, Melbourne's water reserves remain well below full capacity after five years of generally below average rainfall.
