Fed: Rainfall deficits continue in SE Australia

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2009
Fed: Rainfall deficits continue in SE Australia

CANBERRA, Dec 3 AAP - A severe lack of rainfall is continuing to plague south-eastern
Australia, the latest drought statement from the Bureau of Meteorology says.

Serious to severe rainfall deficiencies remain in a narrow band that extends along
the coast from southern NSW through Gippsland and on to central Victoria.

Above-normal rainfall eased conditions near Melbourne and south Gippsland during November,
while a large drought-affected region over the South Australian, Queensland and NSW borders
has been largely removed.

Below-average rainfall was recorded in November for the Northern Territory and eastern
Queensland, which was a continuation of a poor end to the 2008-09 wet season and a poor
start to the current season.

The southwest and southeastern parts of Australia have had below average rainfall since
1997, while the Murray Darling Basin has also suffered below average falls since 2002.

AAP srj/rl/dep

KEYWORD: DROUGHT

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