mrmoshe Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 It's going to rain RAIN, rain and more rain. That's the forecast for the next two months as Sydney yearns for a little ray of summer sunshine. The incredible deluge has been filling dams at a rate of knots and has put the Kurnell desalination plant site under water. Appin's Cataract Dam is full for the first time since December 1999, with water starting to spill on Thursday night. Shoalhaven's Tallowa Dam, which supplies that region and is used to top up Warragamba Dam during dry spells, is also full. As at 9am yesterday, Sydney had received a whopping 172.4 millimetres since the start of February, compared with 4.4 millimetres for the same period last year. February's rainfall is already way above the month's average of 116.9 millimetres - and there's no end in sight. Weather Bureau climate officer Shannon Symons said Sydney would experience above-average rainfall in March and April. Rain patterns would be more of the same, she said, because of a La Nina weather pattern across the Pacific Basin. "The bureau's modelling shows this weather pattern will continue until at least early autumn," Ms Symons said. La Nina, the opposite of the drought-causing El Nino, causes extensive cooling of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. On the east coast, that equates to wetter weather. Sydney's dams are at 64 per cent of capacity, up 3 per cent in just a week. The water supply was at an all-time low at just 33.9 per cent in February last year. Sydney's main water supply, Warragamba Dam, is 25 per cent fuller than it was at this time last year, at almost 58 per cent. Sydney Catchment Authority spokeswoman Alison White said it was "very, very pleasing" to see Warragamba at these levels. "We do enjoy the damp conditions, especially when there is follow-up rain," Ms White said. Steady, consistent rain meant more run-off into water storage because already moist soil did not soak it up, she said. With no more rain and unchanged demand, Sydney now has enough water in storage to last for 3.1 years. Despite the gloom, the drenching rains will be a boon for farmers and supermarket shoppers, Premier Morris Iemma said. Releasing the latest drought figures yesterday, Mr Iemma said large areas of western NSW had moved out of drought for the first time in seven years. "I'm pleased to announce that for the first time in two years only 46.1 per cent of NSW is in drought - down from 52.6 per cent in December," Mr Iemma said. "This is the third successive month that the drought figures have fallen. "Hopefully this will translate into cheaper food at the supermarket cash register, especially for staples like fruit, vegetables and meat." Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said the Bourke area was out of drought for the first time since June 2001. Conditions in Brewarrina, Cobar, Hillston, Moree, Nyngan and Casino were improving, he said. Today's forecast in Sydney is for showers clearing, followed by a couple of days of fine weather. But don't throw away your umbrella. More rain is expected on Wednesday, the weather bureau said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the elk Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 Now here's a question. When do you think the State Govt will lift some of the water restrictions that are currently in place? (Yer I thought so, pigs might fly). Does Morris Iemma know that it has been raining? Where is Morris? Morris...Morris... anyone home? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmoshe Posted February 9, 2008 Author Share Posted February 9, 2008 Now here's a question. When do you think the State Govt will lift some of the water restrictions that are currently in place? (Yer I thought so, pigs might fly). Does Morris Iemma know that it has been raining? Where is Morris? Morris...Morris... anyone home? The Govt. said they would "review" the water restrictions when dam levels reached 70% Don't hold your breath though. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story...from=public_rss Cheers, Pete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnno Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 The incredible deluge has been filling dams at a rate of knots and has put the Kurnell desalination plant site under water. They wanted water there they got it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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