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Statement on Drought for the 5 and 7-month
periods ending 31st July 2006
ISSUED 2nd August 2006 by the National Climate Centre
Rainfall deficiencies spread in western WA; ease in central and
eastern Australia
Rainfall deficiencies
expanded along the west coast of WA following yet another month with
very much below average
rainfall in July, the Bureau of Meteorology announced today.
However, above average July totals largely removed rainfall deficits
that were evident in central Australia at the end of June, and
near-average July rainfall was sufficient to ease the deficits in
central and southeast New South Wales.
For the 5-month period from March to July, a
large part of western WA from Albany to north of Carnarvon is affected
by severe rainfall deficiencies, with a broad coastal zone from Cape
Leeuwin to north of Geraldton experiencing record low rainfall. July
rainfall was in the driest one-tenth of the historical record (decile 1)
over much of western WA from Perth northwards, with record low totals
close to Carnarvon. This is the third consecutive month with very much
below average rainfall (decile 1) across a significant part of western
WA.
A band of rainfall deficiencies, generally in the severe category, runs
from central Victoria northeast to the central-west of NSW, where
average July falls eased the deficits evident at the end of June. The
other areas affected for this period are western Victoria and the
adjacent parts of southeast SA, some of northern and southeast Tasmania,
and southeast Queensland.
For the 7-month period from January to July,
similar areas are affected, though generally to a lesser extent.
Tasmania is the notable exception: rainfall deficiencies dating from the
start of the year affect much of the north and east of the State, with a
small area of driest on record on the north coast. The deficits in south
Queensland are also more extensive than for the five-month period.
Rainfall
deficiency maps for longer periods indicate that deficiencies at the
three year timescale, which are particularly relevant to water supplies,
remain prevalent in parts of eastern Australia, especially in Queensland.
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%
Severe deficiency
- rainfalls in the lowest 5% of historical totals
Lowest on record
- lowest since at least 1900 when the data analysed begin
Very much below average
- rainfalls in the lowest 10% of historical totals
Below average
- rainfalls in the lowest 30% of historical totals,
but not in the lowest 10%
Average
- rainfalls in the middle 40% of historical totals
Above average
- rainfalls in the highest 30% of historical totals,
but not in the highest 10%
Very much above average
- rainfalls in the highest 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 4527
Mike Coughlan on (03) 9669 4086
External Sites Relating to Drought
The Bureau of Meteorology does not make formal drought declarations
as these are done by either the relevant State Governments or by the
Australian Government. The Australian Government Program is called
Exceptional Circumstances
and it is administered by the Federal Department of Agriculture,
Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). General information about Australian
Government drought assistance is available at
http://www.daff.gov.au/droughtassist.
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