Bureau of Meteorology data reveals that Melbourne has just experienced its driest 365-day period on record to 9am this morning, Tuesday 15 May 2007.

Head of the Victorian Climate Services Centre, Dr Harvey Stern, noted: “Melbourne’s average yearly rainfall is 638.8 mm, but for the 365-day period ending today Melbourne had received less than half that amount, 316.4 mm.”

According to Dr David Jones, Head of the Bureau’s Climate Analysis Section, today’s record highlights the severity of the drought that continues in the southeast corner of Australia. “This record shows that unprecedented severe drought conditions persist in Melbourne and surrounding areas over the last year”, said Dr. Jones.

The extremely low rainfall during the last year continues a pattern which commenced in late 1996, and which has seen Melbourne record a record 10 below average rainfall years in a row.

“Melbourne will need to experience significantly higher than average rainfall for sustained periods for water catchments to return to near normal levels”, said Dr Jones.

The previous 365-day record of 318.0 mm was set in 1967-68, although 2002-03 was almost as dry when only 320.2 mm were received.

While Melbourne continues to experience record low rainfall the chances of a La Niña event occurring in 2007 have improved while the risk of a return to El Nino conditions is still very low.