Rain in western NSW originatyed in Cyclone Laurence, off the Kimberley Coast.

[Denis Wilson]

Dear AWN Google Groups members and friends.

 

The rain is falling in the "Upper Basin", originated as Cyclone Laurence off the Kimberley Coast of WA.

Minor Flooding resulting in "Flood alerts" not "Flood Warnings", mostly in the NSW section of the MDB.

 

It is now tracking further north, and when it hits the east coast, it might re-intensify and dump on the northern Queensland coast. Those guys really don't need another flood.

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What has driven this weather is the tail end of Cyclone Laurence, which lashed the north-west coast of Australia - crossing the coastline in "The Kimberley". It has tracked across Western Australia, dumping great volumes of rain in the Pilbara, crossing into northern South Australia and the Northern Territory, and entering western NSW, where it has produced heavy, but very useful rain in the western zone, and the north-west districts, and even down as far as Mudgee, and Young.

This pattern of rain is not unusual, just uncommon (every 10 years on average).

 

In fact it is rain like this which is the lifeblood of the so-called Foodbowl of Australia (the Murray-Darling Basin), especially, in this case the Northern Basin of the Murray-Darling river system.

This one has started further south and west than many, and has continued to track somewhat further south than normal.Rain Depression which started as Cyclone Laurence.
It is the intense low south of Tasmania which has brought
the cold weather to Robertson.
The moist weather from the ex-cyclone Laurence
ended up just further west.
The remains of the "weather system" will track north from now on.

Christmas Day, 5:00 am EDT
Dumping rain in central western NSW.
The remains of the "weather system" will track north from now on.

Lets hope we get a couple more of these cyclonic "washes" over this coming season. Another dump coming down from the Gulf of Carpentaria would match this rainfall nicely, to help central Queensland and the north-western tributaries of the Darling River, especially the Culgoa and Paroo Rivers.

Of course, we know that such cyclones are capable of causing immense damage and loss of life, but this cyclone, although rated at a Category 5 (as severe as Cyclone Tracy) managed to drift across largely unpopulated areas, and caused no loss of life. By contrast, the most famous of Australia's cyclones, Cyclone Tracy "killed 71 people, caused $837 million in damage (1974 AUD) and destroyed more than 70 percent of Darwin's buildings, including 80 percent of houses. Tracy left homeless more than 20,000 out of the 49,000 inhabitants of the city prior to landfall and required the evacuation of over 30,000 people." Source: Wikipedia > Cyclone Tracy.

 

Cheers

 

Denis Wilson
www.peonyden.blogspot.com

 

[diane bell]

But we desperately need it down here in Lakes Alexandrina and Albert.

Diane

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[Denis Wilson]

Hi Diane

 

I know you need a flood to get right down the system, but this will not do that.

That's why I posted the details of this weather system, as I knew you would have heard something about "floods" in NSW.

Those reports were exaggerated, as the Bureau has fallen victim to political correctness, and prefers to "warn" people of possible damage and life-threatening floods, rather than be accused of dereliction of duty by not warning them. That is part of the over-reaction to the Victorian Bush Fire Inquiry.

 

It has been good, steady soaking rain, mostly.

Not much run-off.

That means little flow, or even less "flooding".

 

The last flood (in Qld) did not make it past the private catchments, and the Menindee Weirs.

This one will certainly not.

It might help the Macquarie Marches, that's about all.

 

Happy New Year to everybody (west of the Great Divide) hoping for more rain.

The east coast of NSW and Qld don't need more floods.

 

Cheers

 

Denis Wilson
www.peonyden.blogspot.com

[diane bell]

Thanks Denis,

I am very aware that floods do not make it to the Lower Lakes of SA and it is good to be reminded of where the private catchments are, the lack of consistency in water regimes across the basin, the jurisdictional issues with the Menindee Lakes and that 'weather reporting' is politicised. 

Soaking rain is good for the whole basin. We certainly do not wish excess floods on the already inundated. 

Not sure you get all my Media Releases - the one of yesterday is below.

Dec 26, 2009:

What is wrong with this picture?

1. Latest News: Issued at 10:20 AM, Saturday the 26th of December 2009. "Flood Watch for the Castlereagh, Lower Namoi, Lower Macquarie and Bogan Rivers and local flooding along the Barwon Darling River between Collarenebri and Brewarrina."

2. Adelaide Now: Blue-green algae in Lake Albert: December 24, 2009. "Lake Albert has been affected by blue green algae and health authorities are warning people to avoid contact. The algae is visible in blue-green patches of water and surface scum. SA Health says contact with the algae can cause eye or skin irritation and stomach problems. Dogs are especially susceptible as organisms may stick to their coats."

What kind of managers allow the bottom of the river to die while upstream floods?

Does the newly released "Securing the Future" plan of the DEH*, which purports to support a "fresh water" solution for the Lakes, have any plans for connecting these two events, or does being below the "Wellington Line" (= Brisbane Line in World War 2) mean abandonment for the river, communities and dependent economies?

*The draft long-term plan for the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth entitled The Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth Projects: Securing the Future was released for public comment until Friday, 15 January 2010  http://www.murrayfutures.sa.gov.au/lower.php

Diane

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