Issued on 3 March 2011
A wet summer, but deficiencies remain in southwest WA
All states and territories recorded above median rainfall in summer (December 2010 to February 2011). Much of the southwest corner of WA recorded above to very much above average rainfall over summer as the sixth wettest January on record ended a stretch of dry months in this region. However, February was again below average. Despite the wet January, the 12 month period from March 2010 to February 2011 was the third driest such period on record.
14-month rainfall deficiencies
For the 14-month period from January 2010 to February 2011, average to below average falls over the southwestern corner of WA during February 2011 maintained areas of rainfall deficiency as described in the previousdrought statement. The time of the year and the amount of rainfall needed, means it is unlikely that deficiencies will be removed in coming months. To relieve most areas in southwest WA, i.e. just to get out of the "serious deficiency" category, rainfall for the next three months will have to be in the "very much above average" category, the highest 10% wettest such periods on record. For the southwest corner adjacent to the coast, rainfall would have to exceed the highest amount previously recorded.
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