Drought Statement

MEDIA RELEASE - ISSUED 7th MAY 2002 Statement on Drought for the 5 and 3-month periods ending 30th April 2002 Rainfall deficiencies affect all states The Bureau of Meteorology announced today that rainfall deficiencies continued in northwest W.A., eastern Queensland and around the N.S.W./S.A./Victoria border region following average to below average falls during April. This third area expanded extensively and a small area in the southeast of S.A. had the lowest rainfall on record for the five-month period from December to April. There was also an increase in the rainfall deficiency near the coast in the sectors Cooktown to Townsville and Rockhampton to Grafton, and the emergence of a region of serious deficiency on the northwest coast of Tasmania. Rainfall deficiencies persisted in the far northern fringes of the Northern Territory. For the three-month period from February to April, rainfall deficiencies are evident over most of Tasmania, much of southern South Australia, parts of western Victoria and some of coastal and far western Queensland. Parts of Tasmania and SA have registered record low rainfall for this three-month period. Statements will no longer be issued for the period beginning in November, as most of the areas of deficiency are smaller than, and contained within, the larger five-month areas. Rainfall deficiency maps for standard periods (3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24 and 36 months) are updated monthly on the Bureau's web site. 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 (EDT) Monday to Friday: Grant Beard on (03) 9669 4527 Robert Fawcett on (03) 9669 4603

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A black and white version is also available.