8006 Australia Drought Review Statement no 119
Title
8006 Australia Drought Review Statement no 119
Text
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AUSTRALIA
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND THE ENVIRONMENT
BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY
# DROUGHT REVIEW
# AUSTRALIA
NUMBER 119
Issued June 1980
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DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND THE ENVIRONMENT
BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY
GPO Box 1289K
MELBOURNE VIC 3001
STATEMENT ON DROUGHT ISSUED BY THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF METEOROLOGY, 6 JUNE 1980
The acting Director of Meteorology, Mr R.B. Crowder, said today that rainfall during May had been above average over much of eastern Queensland, northeastern New South Wales and on parts of Tasmania's east coast. Districts in which rainfall for the month was near the highest on record include the North Coast, Northern Tablelands and the Central Western Plains in New South Wales and parts of Moreton and the East Darling Downs in Queensland. Extensive flooding occurred around Grafton, New South Wales, in the first half of the month.
During the three months ending 31 May 1980, near to or above average rain has fallen over much of Australia. Exceptions to this include far western Queensland, the areas around Gladstone in Queensland, Moree in New South Wales, and a band from the Great Dividing Range to the coast, southwards from the Hunter Valley in New South Wales and including northeast Victoria and Gippsland.
One large area of continuing severe rainfall deficiency (for the 6 months ending 31 May 1980) is along the New South Wales-Queensland border, and includes parts of the Darling Downs and the Northwest Slopes and Plains. Other smaller areas of severe deficiency exist in far southwest Queensland, the Hunter and Central Tablelands in New South Wales, and parts of the lower Northeast and West Gippsland in Victoria, with
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pockets in Victoria's West Central District, west of Melbourne.
In Queensland, for the six month period December 1979 to May 1980, parts of the Darling Downs, Warrego, Maranoa and far southwest districts are still in a situation of serious rainfall deficiency. In New South Wales, parts of the Northwest Slopes and Plains, the Northern Tablelands and the Hunter and Manning districts are still experiencing a serious deficiency. This is in contrast to the extreme northeast of the State, where the flood rains brought a break to the drought during the month.
The far southeast of New South Wales, and much of eastern Victoria, is still in a seriously rainfall deficient situation, with parts of the New South Wales Central and Southern Tablelands, the Southwest Slopes and the South Coast being affected, together with much of northeastern Victoria and Gippsland. Parts of central Victoria are also in a situation of serious rainfall deficiency.
A significant easing of the drought situation along the east coast of Tasmania resulted from the widespread rain that fell in the last week of May.
The map shows the area and severity of rainfall deficiencies, and the tables give statistics of rainfall for selected stations in and near the affected areas.
AUSTRALIA
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND THE ENVIRONMENT
BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY
# DROUGHT REVIEW
# AUSTRALIA
NUMBER 119
Issued June 1980
=== Page 2 of 3
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND THE ENVIRONMENT
BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY
GPO Box 1289K
MELBOURNE VIC 3001
STATEMENT ON DROUGHT ISSUED BY THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF METEOROLOGY, 6 JUNE 1980
The acting Director of Meteorology, Mr R.B. Crowder, said today that rainfall during May had been above average over much of eastern Queensland, northeastern New South Wales and on parts of Tasmania's east coast. Districts in which rainfall for the month was near the highest on record include the North Coast, Northern Tablelands and the Central Western Plains in New South Wales and parts of Moreton and the East Darling Downs in Queensland. Extensive flooding occurred around Grafton, New South Wales, in the first half of the month.
During the three months ending 31 May 1980, near to or above average rain has fallen over much of Australia. Exceptions to this include far western Queensland, the areas around Gladstone in Queensland, Moree in New South Wales, and a band from the Great Dividing Range to the coast, southwards from the Hunter Valley in New South Wales and including northeast Victoria and Gippsland.
One large area of continuing severe rainfall deficiency (for the 6 months ending 31 May 1980) is along the New South Wales-Queensland border, and includes parts of the Darling Downs and the Northwest Slopes and Plains. Other smaller areas of severe deficiency exist in far southwest Queensland, the Hunter and Central Tablelands in New South Wales, and parts of the lower Northeast and West Gippsland in Victoria, with
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pockets in Victoria's West Central District, west of Melbourne.
In Queensland, for the six month period December 1979 to May 1980, parts of the Darling Downs, Warrego, Maranoa and far southwest districts are still in a situation of serious rainfall deficiency. In New South Wales, parts of the Northwest Slopes and Plains, the Northern Tablelands and the Hunter and Manning districts are still experiencing a serious deficiency. This is in contrast to the extreme northeast of the State, where the flood rains brought a break to the drought during the month.
The far southeast of New South Wales, and much of eastern Victoria, is still in a seriously rainfall deficient situation, with parts of the New South Wales Central and Southern Tablelands, the Southwest Slopes and the South Coast being affected, together with much of northeastern Victoria and Gippsland. Parts of central Victoria are also in a situation of serious rainfall deficiency.
A significant easing of the drought situation along the east coast of Tasmania resulted from the widespread rain that fell in the last week of May.
The map shows the area and severity of rainfall deficiencies, and the tables give statistics of rainfall for selected stations in and near the affected areas.
Collection
Citation
“8006 Australia Drought Review Statement no 119,” Archive Home, accessed August 27, 2026, https://mail.pkman.org/archive/items/show/677.