Rainfall wrap 2023

It was a tale of mixed fortunes across the nation in what was a drier than average year for most. Compare towns in our searchable list.

The year 2023 will go down as a tale of two seasons, according to an analysis of year-to-date rainfall totals across Australia.

Overall, Australia has received 83 per cent of its yearly average rainfall, with the highest totals recorded in January, courtesy of heavy rain across northern Australia; March, due to falls in tropical Queensland; and November, from rain on the NSW south coast and northern Victoria.

Many towns had more rain than expected, with Camooweal in Queensland and Broome in Western Australia leading the board with almost double their annual average.

Julia Creek and Burketown in northern Queensland were third and fourth and had more than 150 per cent of their long-term average.
In contrast, Carnarvon in WA has received just 25 per cent of its annual rainfall average, with only 54mm falling across the year.

In Victoria, Lake Eildon, Portland and Gabo Island all received the most with more than 800mm each, while Swan Hill and Rutherglen have both already received 121 per cent of their yearly average, courtesy of heavy falls in November.

On the other end of the scale, the Mallee towns of Hopetoun, with 250mm, and Warracknabeal, with 253mm, were among the lowest totals in the state.

Avalon and Ballarat have received just 61 per cent and 70 per cent of their yearly average respectively.

Northern NSW had drier-than-average seasons for Mungindi and Casino, receiving 46 per cent and 44 per cent of annual average. In the east, Taree and Tumbarumba both had more than 840mm, but Ivanhoe, Deniliquin and Albury had the biggest differentials, all receiving more than 128 per cent of their average.

Late November rain in Victoria and New South Wales was a surprise amid declarations of El Nino. Picture: Zoe Phillips

In the east it was a different story, with Sydney receiving more than 900mm, and Taree and Tumbarumba both over 840mm. But it was Ivanhoe, Deniliquin and Albury that had the biggest differential in their yearly average, all receiving more than 128 per cent of their average.