30 June
2006 - The Hon Greg Hunt MP, Parliamentary Secretary
with ministerial responsibility for the Australian
Bureau of Meteorology, said today that data from
the Bureau confirmed that many parts of Australia
recorded their driest and coldest temperatures
for decades - and in the case of Western Australia
and the Northern Territory, set new lows for rainfall
and the coldest minimum.
"In terms of rainfall,
the southwest of WA has been especially hard hit
with most areas west of a line running from Carnarvon
to Kalgoorlie, then to Perth and down to Albany
having their driest June on record.
'The South West of Western Australia
recorded its lowest monthly rainfall of 30mm which
was the lowest in this part of Australia since
the 2001 figure of 37.8mm. This trend was replicated
right across Western Australia with the average
rainfall for the state totalling 3.8mm - the previous
lowest being 5.9mm in 1976.
"These very low June totals
in the southwest followed a very dry autumn for
southern Australia. April to June was the fourth
driest on record, with only 1902, 1976 and 1972
being drier.
"Strong high pressure systems
have dominated the weather patterns across Australia
for two months, with the associated cold and dry
air, light winds and clear skies producing widespread
frosts, especially during June.
"Over the southern half
of the country, the April to June period was the
coldest on record (since 1950) for overnight temperatures,
while the month of June was the second coldest.
Mr Hunt said Victoria also experienced some record
low temperatures and rainfalls.
"Victoria suffered through
its second lowest June temperatures since 1972with
temperatures for this month -2.11° below the
average. The town of Benalla recorded an all time
extreme minimum temperature low of -4.5°C
on 14 June, the previous lowest being -4.4°C
in 1965.
"The rainfall figures across
Victoria are the third lowest on record since
1900 and the lowest in the last 90 years. The
average rainfall was only 22.0mm which is barely
above the lowest figure ever recorded of 21.6mm
in 1914.
"The Northern Territory
also recorded its coldest nights since 1950 with
the minimum temperature dropping 2.50° below
average - the previous coolest occurred in 1977
when the temperature dropped -2.30° below
the June average."
Kristy McSweeney
