Date: 29/08/2008
Breaking Weather News - Western NSW anticipates much needed rain
Tom Saunders, 28 August 2008Inland NSW can finally expect rain on the weekend with weatherzone forecasting widespread falls of around 10 to 20mm.
The rain follows a long dry spell with many western parts of the state likely to receive their heaviest rain in at least three months. Dubbo needs just 16mm to record its heaviest fall since January while 15mm at Cobar will make it their heaviest since March.
The rain will develop as a broad cloudband currently forming over WA spreads east ahead of a strong cold front. The rain will start to fall over far western NSW early Saturday and spread east to reach the coast on Sunday. Parts of the northern inland could receive over 30mm.
So far this month most areas of NSW west of the ranges have received only about 20% of their average August rain while the far northwest is yet to receive a drop.
Breaking Weather News - Western Queensland desperate for next week's rain
Brett Dutschke, 26 August 2008Next week parts of western Queensland will get their best rain in two-to-six months while others who are just as desperate miss out again.
The Channel Country and Maranoa and Warrego can expect five to 20 millimetres from Sunday to Tuesday but parts of the Northwest and Central West districts will miss out as the rain-band favours southern parts.
Much of the Northwest and Channel Country has had little more than a couple millimetres since early February when the last decent rain fell. Cloncurry has only had 73mm this year, more than 350mm short of the January-to-August average. The Northwest town's dam which is at a desperately low level will only pick up a few drops next week.
Channel Country residents are now seeing their first rain in more than two months although it's barely enough to settle the dust. Since 9am yesterday Boulia received 0.4 of a millimetre and Windorah 1.8mm.
Breaking Weather News - WA wheat belt picks up most rain
Brett Dutschke, 28 August 2008Recent rain in Western Australia targeted the wheat belt with 10 to 25 millimetres in the last two days.
Since the rain started early Wednesday morning Dalwallinu has been one of the wettest in the state. The Central Wheat Belt town picked up 25mm, their best rain since last year and highest August rain in five years. This brings the yearly total to 287mm, just short of the January-to-August average of 294mm.
The Southern Coastal has missed out on the best rain yet again with falls decreasing to about 10mm or less. Salmon Gums managed just two millimetres since Wednesday morning, still its highest rain in a month. It has just 167mm this year, 82mm short of the average to the end of August.
The rain was patchy and light on the west coast and in the southwest with Geraldton and Perth missing out.
All of these regions can expect up to five millimetres on Friday with a colder change.
based on data from
