Issued 7 May 2003
Rainfall deficiencies ease across northern NSW
Above-average April rainfall eased the existing rainfall deficiencies across much of northern New South Wales, according to the Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology. There was little change to the rainfall deficiencies in other parts of eastern Australia however.
13-month rainfall deficiencies
For the 13-month period from April 2002 to April 2003, serious to severe rainfall deficiencies stretched from far north Queensland across most of NSW, parts of eastern SA and over central Victoria. Also affected were northeastern Tasmania, parts of west and south WA, as well as the eastern inland of WA and the adjacent region in the NT.
Localised improvements resulted from heavy April falls in eastern Tasmania, eastern Victoria and in parts of southeast Queensland.
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17-month rainfall deficiencies
For the longer 17-month period from December 2001 to April 2003, the picture is now very similar to the 13-month period, and accordingly no further statements will be Issued for the period beginning in December 2001. (A standard period 18-month map is available on the Bureau’s web site - see below).
Deficiencies over the longer period are slightly stronger across northwest Victoria, areas to the south of Charleville in southern Queensland, and those parts of western WA showing as seriously to severely deficient over the shorter 13-month period.
Pacific Ocean indicators show that the 2002/03 El Niño has finished, and consequently that further follow-up rains are possible over eastern Australia during the next few months.
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