February 4, 2014
Peter Hannam
Sydney (click here) has recorded its lowest summer rainfall to date in more than 70 years, as the state swelters through its driest January in more than a decade.
Since December, the city has had just 48.4 millimetres of rain, a little more than a quarter of the usual amount, and the lowest since 1941-42, said Acacia Pepler, a climatologist at the weather bureau.
NSW has had its driest January since 2003, with a statewide average of just 20.6 millimetres - or less than a third of the average rainfall.
For grazier Rod Barnes, drought has advanced on his property and those of his neighbours in northern NSW much quicker than anybody expected....
...Drying out
Three big heatwaves have hit the state this year, the latest one still searing its way across southern parts of the state on Monday. Hay Airport clocked up 45.5 (113.9 F) degrees, Deniliquin a fourth day of at least 43 (109.9 F), while Canberra set a record for the most days of 37 (98.6 F) or warmer with its sixth such day.
Sydney, while shielded from the worst of the blasts of summer by sea breezes, is also drying out.
Last month alone, Sydney collected just 17.4 millimetres of rain, or less than a fifth of the long-term average, making it the driest January since 2003. Temperatures were about 1 degree above average for the city.
For NSW, maximum temperatures last month were 2.7 degrees above average, the 10th highest, adding to farmers' woes.
Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce is reported to be seeking $7 billion for a bailout package for farmers, particularly in Queensland, a claim he later denied making during Monday's Q&A program on ABC. Most of Queensland is already declared to be in drought.
Ed Fessey, a grazier near Brewarrina in northern NSW, said his region had not had decent rain in almost two years. Bores on his farm supply water but with almost no grass left, Mr Fessey has had to cut his sheep numbers by more than half to 4500 head, and has reduced some of his 700 cattle....
