National Overview: Climate and water
Below average rainfall was experienced across most of Australia for the third consecutive year. The impact has been greatest in the Murray–Darling Basin, where storage volumes have decreased from 92% full at 30 June 2012 to 42% full at 30 June 2015.
2014–15 annual rainfall compared to historical records (1900–2015)
- Rainfall was below to very much below average across most of southern and northeastern Australia, and average across western and central parts of the country.
- This was the third consecutive year below average rainfall conditions were experienced across most of Australia (see Climate and past weather for more information).
- Total storage volume across the 10 regions decreased by 15% during the year.
Surface water storage and capacity volumes at 30 June 2014 and 2015
- Storage volumes increased marginally in only three regions—Canberra, South East Queensland and Sydney—which were attributed to above average rainfall occurring along the east coast.
- Storage volumes decreased in 7 of the 10 regions; Murray–Darling Basin storage volumes dropped from 57% to 42% full following consecutive drops since 2012.
- The decrease in storage volume in the southern portion of the Murray–Darling Basin was greater compared to the north this year, which reflects the rainfall across the region.
- For more detail on storages, see the Bureau's Water Storage website.
Surface water storage in the Murray–Darling Basin at 30 June 2012 to 2015