Parched in March
Angus McLean-Smith,
Saturday March 31, 2018 - 10:30 AEDT
Wrapping up the last day of March today, southern parts of Australia have seen a dry start to Autumn. Rainfall totals for March are well below average for southern parts of Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory.
With a high pressure ridge sitting across southern states and territories today, it looks unlikely that there will be significant rainfall to make up for dry conditions so far.
Over in the west, Perth has only seen a measly 1.8mm of rain over the entire month, they usually receive 20.4mm. Out in the goldfields, Kalgoorlie normally receives 27.6mm in March, however so far this month only 2mm has been recorded.
The dry conditions have also extended across the Nullarbor into South Australia. Adelaide has been left with only 4.4mm of rain, compared to the average of 24mm. Further north in Port Augusta there has only been 1.2mm of rain, in an average March they receive 16.4mm.
Crossing into Victoria, Melbourne saw more rain than Adelaide and Perth, managing to receive 21.8mm, but was still less than halfway to its average of 50.1mm. Up in the Mallee, Mildura can expect 19.7mm in an average March, but this time around it has only received 2.2mm.
The Australian Capital Territory has also experienced a dry start to Autumn. The last time Canberra saw March rainfall totals this low was back in 2004, with just 14% (7.2mm) of the monthly average having been collected.
Southern New South Wales hasn't been spared either, with widespread significantly below average rainfall recorded. In the Riverina, Griffith has only seen 2.6mm of rain, less than 10% of the average March rainfall total. The last time Griffith saw a rainfall total this low was in 2004. Rainfall in Young this month has only amounted to 2.8mm, compared to the average of 47.5mm. This is the lowest amount seen at Young airport station, however records only exist as far back as 1994.
April looks like it will see a return to around average rainfall for Victoria and New South Wales, however rainfall in South Australia and southern Western Australia looks to be below average again.
- Weatherzone
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2018