Issued 3 July 2002
Some relief but rainfall deficiencies remain widespread
The Bureau of Meteorology announced today that well above average June rainfall removed or eased short-term rainfall deficiencies in eastern Queensland and western Tasmania. However, areas with pre-existing rainfall deificiencies generally experienced below average falls in June, most notably in the southwest of WA where rainfall deficiencies have developed for the third successive year.
7-month rainfall deficiencies
For the seven-month period from December to June, a region of serious to severe rainfall deficiency exists along the eastern border of South Australia with both Victoria and NSW, and then follows the NSW/Queensland border to the coast. Other pockets are evident in Queensland near Birdsville, Longreach and between Cooktown and Townsville, and in the NT along the north coast.
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5-month rainfall deficiencies
For the five-month period from February to June, rainfall deficiencies intensified across parts of western and southern WA, but there was relief from heavy rain in both western Tasmania and the Queensland coastal strip from Mackay to Brisbane. Also experiencing rainfall deficiencies for this period were central and southeast SA, western Victoria, northern and eastern Tasmania, and parts of western and central Queensland.
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