Deficiencies persist in far SE Australia, ease in NW & central Australia

For the 5-month period from March to July, severe rainfall deficiencies extend from the far southeast of South Australia across western and central Victoria to southwest Gippsland. The area near and to the southeast of Melbourne has recorded its driest March to July period on record. Much of northern Tasmania is also affected by serious deficiencies for this period, with severe deficits in the northeast. This most recent period of deficient rainfall in southeastern Australia comes on top of below average to record low 8-year rainfall totals in the same region.

For the periods beginning in January (7-months) and July 2004 (13-months), rainfall deficiencies were either removed or eased across large parts of central and northwestern Australia following very much above average to record July rainfall. Areas that continue to be affected for the 7-month period include an area just west of Brisbane, a large patch between Bourke (NSW) and Charleville (Qld), parts of eastern WA and adjacent western SA, and patches across the NT and northern Queensland.

For the 13-month period, the main areas affected continue to be large parts of the southern NT and the neighbouring regions of eastern WA.

Northern Tasmania is also affected over both time-spans, with the area around Launceston having had its driest 13-month July to July period on record.