Sydney records longest autumn dry spell on record

From: Bjorn Viaene (Bjorn.Viaene_at_pandora.be)
Date: 06/01/04 

Date: Tue, 01 Jun 2004 16:04:15 GMT

BBC: Sydney records longest autumn dry spell on record

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/news/index.shtml?newX=200

Australia has been blighted by a persistent drought in recent years.
Although there has been relief in most parts, others are still suffering -
namely Victoria and New South Wales. The ongoing drought has just produced
the longest autumn dry spell in Sydney since records began in 1859.

During the 55 day period from 7th April to 31st May 2004, a total of less
than 10mm of rain has fallen in the city. The last time such a small amount
of rain was recorded was fifty years ago during a dry spell of 48 days in
autumn 1954.

The total rainfall in the past three months in total adds up to just 142mm,
giving Sydney its driest autumn since 1965 when only 136mm was recorded.

The dry weather is quite exceptional given that autumn is normally Sydney's
wettest season with an average seasonal rainfall of 383mm.

In terms of 'rain days' - the number of days in the season when rain is
recorded - Sydney only clocked up 16 days during autumn. This is the lowest
number of rain days since 1888 when there were only 14 days with rain.

Australia is one of the largest grain exporters in the world, but its crops
suffered very badly in 2002 and 2003 during the worst drought to hit the
country for 100 years. Until recently, it was feared that the whole of
Australia would be affected by another crop-devastating drought, but in
actual fact, apart from the very dry parts of New South Wales and Victoria,
most of the country has seen good rains in the past few weeks.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology is continuing to forecast normal
rainfall for the coming winter months.

BBC 

-- 
Viaene Björn
http://users.telenet.be/weathersite
__________________________________________

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