Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Riverine flooding began on Wednesday 12 on some rivers and continued until
the end of the month on several northern rivers.
Darwin Airport recorded its highest 24-hour rainfall of 367.6mm of rain in the
24-hour period to 9am on 16 February. Darwin Airport three-day total (15-17
February 2011) was 684.8mm, breaking the previous three-day record.
Tropical moisture interacted with a cold front, triggering extreme rainfall
across the Melbourne Metropolitan area, the North Mallee district and much
of eastern Victoria between 4 and 6 February 2011. Daily rainfall totals between
100-200mm were widespread in the eastern and south-eastern suburbs of
Melbourne and were the equivalent of what most stations would usually observe
in an entire summer season. The exceptionally high daily rainfall totals resulted
in severe flash flooding in numerous locations, with the south-eastern suburbs of
Melbourne and the regional town of Mildura amongst the most severely affected.
A trough of low pressure brought very moist air across Tasmania and produced
exceptionally heavy rainfall in the north between 12 and 14 January 2011. A
new state record January daily rainfall of 282mm was set at Falmouth on the
northern East Coast. In the northwest, Yolla exceeded its previous January daily
rainfall record on both 13 and 14 January. Some sites had their highest January
total rainfall, with a few receiving more than eight times the long-term monthly
January average over the four-day spell.
Dedles
Highest 0.5%
on record
Very much
above average
Above average
Average
10
8-9
4-7
2-3
Below average
Very much
below average
Lowest 0.5%
on record
Figure 3.8
Sea surface temperature anomalies (departure from 1961-90 average) for
September through to December 2010
Source: Bureau of Meteorology (Australia)
Note
a Highest on record sea surface temperature anomalies occurred in regions that studies
have demonstrated have a high association with Australian rainfall. Sea surface
temperatures in the Australian region have warmed by just less than 1°C since 1900.
