Drought Statement

MEDIA RELEASE - ISSUED 7th DECEMBER 2001 Statement on Drought for the 9 & 12-month periods ending 30th November 2001 Deficiencies ease in Queensland, persist in W.A. The Bureau of Meteorology announced today that above average November rains helped ease or eliminate rainfall deficiencies in southeast Queensland. However, there was generally little change to the pattern of deficiencies in Western Australia. The first map below shows the regions in southern and western W.A. with serious to severe deficiencies for the nine-month period from March to November. Above average falls eased the situation to the west of Kalgoorlie, but average to below average falls in other areas left deficiencies largely intact. 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. Rainfall in excess of 100mm during November significantly eased or removed rainfall deficits in parts of southern and eastern Queensland, particularly in the area between Roma and Gladstone. For the twelve months from December 2000 to November, serious to severe rainfall deficiencies affect most coastal areas from St. Lawrence to Brisbane. Southeast Queensland also experienced well below average rainfall last year. Rainfall deficiency maps for standard periods (3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24 and 36 months) are updated monthly on the Bureau's web site, at http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/silo/rain_maps.cgi . Note: The terms used to describe rainfall in these Drought Statements have the following meanings - Well below average - rainfalls in the lowest 10% of historical totals Below average - rainfalls in the lowest 30% of historical totals, but not in the lowest 10% Average - rainfalls in the middle 40% of historical totals Above average - rainfalls in the highest 30% of historical totals, but not in the highest 10% Well above average - rainfalls in the highest 10% of historical totals Serious deficiency - rainfalls in the lowest 10% of historical totals, but not in the lowest 5% Severe deficiency - rainfalls in the lowest 5% of historical totals Lowest on record - lowest since at least 1900 when the data analysed begin For more information regarding this rainfall deficiencies statement, please contact the following climate meteorologists during normal business hours (EST) Monday to Friday: Grant Beard on (03) 9669 4527 Robert Fawcett on (03) 9669 4603

Click on the map for full resolution.
A black and white version is also available.


Click on the map for full resolution.
A black and white version is also available.