Dry end to winter ahead of expected wetter-than-average spring
The Bureau of Meteorology say the final week of winter will end on a fairly dry note following big falls for many areas last week. Here’s what’s in store for spring.
WINTER in southeast Australia is expected to end on a fairly dry note even after a wetter-than-average week for most centres in the past week.
Spring officially begins next Tuesday, with the Bureau of Meteorology pointing only to minor falls for most of the continent until then.
In Victoria, South Gippsland and parts of the South West are tipped to the receive the best rain of up to 15mm.
The drier outlook follows a wetter week across parts of Victoria and southern NSW during which some centres recorded almost a month’s worth of rain in a matter of a few days.
Among the best falls were in the Western District and southwest Victoria with Nullawarre picking up 72mm in the seven days to 9am yesterday, ahead of Lismore (64mm), Terang (63mm) and Penshurst (62mm). To put things in perspective, Lismore’s long-term August rainfall total is 68mm.
Other centres to record more than an inch of rain on the old scale included Port Fairy with 57mm and Colac with 54mm. Hamilton, Merino and Mortlake each recorded 48mm while Warrnambool received 45mm, Casterton and Westmere 42mm, and Cavendish and Portland 41mm.
In the Mallee, where grain growers are hoping for a favourable spring to finish off all-important winter crops following a drier-than-average June and July, Werrimull picked up 12mm and Walpeup 10mm.
There were heavier falls in the Wimmera with Apsley measuring 44mm ahead of Edenhope (36mm), Kanagulk (29mm), Ben Nevis (28mm), Goroke and Longerenong (26mm). In the North East, Cheshunt recorded 52mm, Strathbogie 47mm and Violet Town 43mm while in the east of the state the best falls were at Jindivick (65mm), Darnum (60mm), and Thorpdale and Warragul (57mm).
Looking ahead, the Bureau of Meteorology has increased the odds of wetter-than-normal La Nina conditions forming this year to 70 per cent – or three times the average likelihood.
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