Dry spell set to be broken

Shepparton’s dry start to the year has continued through to autumn with the city’s March rainfall less than a fifth of the monthly average in the past 23 years.

Shepparton's dry spell is set to be broken.

But this looks set to change in the next few months, according to predictions.

Only 5.4 mm of rainfall was recorded at the Bureau of Meteorology’s Shepparton airport site last month, well below the monthly average of about 30 mm since 1997.

It was the driest March since 2015, when just 3.8 mm was recorded.

But unlike 2015, when more than 65 mm was recorded in the year’s first two months, Shepparton recorded only about 13 mm in January and February combined.

This year to date has seen just 18.6 mm of rainfall in Shepparton.

This is the driest start to the year since 2004, when just 11 mm was recorded in that year’s first three months.

Last year was Shepparton’s driest in 12 years with bureau rainfall readings at Shepparton airport receiving a total of 266.4 mm.

This was the lowest annual rainfall at the site since 2006, when a total of 183 mm was received.

The 2018 annual rainfall total was also the third lowest on record for the site, according to the bureau.

By contrast, the yearly rainfall total for 2016 was 640 mm, while 426 mm fell in Shepparton in 2017.

More than half of March’s 5.4 mm was received on one day.

But the dry weather may be about to turn around.

According to the bureau’s three-month outlook for Shepparton — from April to June — there is a 100 per cent chance of at least 50 mm falling in the next three months.

It reports there is a 61 per cent likelihood of at least 100 mm falling, 23 per cent chance of at least 150 mm falling and a 7 per cent chance of at least 200 mm falling in the next three months.

The story, “Dry spell set to be broken” is from The Shepparton News.