Issued 3 February 2006
Rainfall deficiencies persist in patches of eastern Australia
In the short to medium term, patches of rainfall deficiencies persist in eastern Australia, mainly Queensland, the Bureau of Meteorology announced today. Despite abundant monsoon rains in the NT, northern WA and parts of far north Queensland, the first four months of the northern wet season were very dry and hot in central Queensland. In addition, rainfall deficiencies for the past twelve months are evident in parts of eastern and northern Queensland, as well as around the western border regions of Queensland and NSW.
4-month rainfall deficiencies
For the 4-month period from October to January, serious rainfall deficiencies, with patches of severe deficiencies, have developed around Longreach and Barcaldine in central Queensland. In addition, there are also smaller patches of deficits west of Bourke in NSW, close to the Queensland border. To make matters worse, temperatures have been very high (highest on record in many cases) during this period over the areas with rainfall deficits.
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12-month rainfall deficiencies
For the 12-month period from February to January, rainfall deficiencies are evident between Bourke (NSW) and Charleville (Qld), around Mackay on the central Queensland coast, and in smaller patches over far northern Queensland (mainly Cape York Peninsula). A small area in far southwest Victoria is also affected by deficiencies over this period.
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