Above average June rainfall eases deficiencies in parts of the southeast

For the 6-month period from January to June, serious to severe rainfall deficiencies extend over much of the southern half of NSW, the ACT and northern Victoria to the far east of SA (see map). A small region on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula is also affected. Compared with the situation at the end of May, there was a general decrease in both the spatial extent and intensity of the deficiencies as a result of average to above average June rainfall. The easing of the deficiencies was most pronounced in SA, parts of the Riverina and Southwest Slopes in NSW, and in northeast and central Victoria, together with the southern Wimmera. However, a dry June saw deficiencies expand and intensify in the Southern Tablelands, South Coast & Illawarra and Sydney Metropolitan districts. Sydney’s rainfall total for the year-to-date is nearly 400 mm below average. Deficiencies for the period beginning in January are no longer evident in WA.

For the 24-month period from July 2002 to June 2004, rainfall deficiencies still persist in the southeast of the mainland, in an area, which although smaller than that affected by 6-month deficiencies, largely overlaps with it. However, this longer period affects areas further west in SA and WA, and further south, including Gippsland and the Central district surrounding Melbourne. Record low 24-month falls extend in a strip from the Central Tablelands west of Sydney, to Bombala near the Victorian border, including the ACT. In WA, long-term rainfall deficiencies are evident in patches near Exmouth and Onslow (including some lowest on record), south of Shark Bay, as well as in smaller areas north of Perth and near Busselton.