Drought Statement - Issued 2nd December 2004
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Statement on Drought for the 8 and 11-month
periods ending 30th November 2004 Rainfall deficiencies removed in northeast NSW and southeast QueenslandThe Bureau of Meteorology announced today that above to very much above average November rains in far northeast NSW and southeast Queensland, removed rainfall deficiencies for the period since the start of April. There was also a decrease in deficiencies over inland southern NSW for the period since January, although some patches remain. Rainfall deficiencies also persist in parts of central Queensland and southern WA. For the 8-month period from April to November, serious, and in a few cases severe, rainfall deficiencies have contracted to Queensland’s central coast between Bowen and Gladstone and in some areas further inland over the Central Highlands and Coalfields district. A small patch also remains near Grafton in northeast NSW and several areas between Albany and Esperance in southern WA are also affected. No further statements will be issued for the period beginning in April 2004 as southern WA is entering its dry season, and central Queensland rainfall will be monitored as part of the northern wet season. For the 11-month period from January to November, serious rainfall deficiencies affect several patches in southern NSW, the largest of which also covers the ACT. Average to above average rainfall in November reduced both the intensity and extent of rainfall deficiencies in southern NSW, and removed the few remaining patches in northern Victoria. Serious deficiencies are also analysed near Mackay and Rockhampton on Queensland’s central coast, and in the far southwest of WA. Much of southern and eastern Australia continues to experience deficiencies for periods longer than two years and only a prolonged period of above average rainfall will remove them. 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 - Serious deficiency
- rainfalls in the lowest 10% of historical totals,
but not in the lowest 5% Very much below average
- rainfalls in the lowest 10% of historical totals For more information regarding this rainfall deficiencies statement, please contact the following climate meteorologists in the National Climate Centre: Grant Beard on (03) 9669 4527David Jones on (03) 9669 4085 Mike Coughlan on (03) 9669 4086 |
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.
