General News
10 November, 2022
October records highest rainfall in decades
It’s no secret that October was a wet month, with significant rainfall not only causing substantial flooding across the state but also breaking local rainfall records. According to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), 167.2 millimetres of rain fell on...
It’s no secret that October was a wet month, with significant rainfall not only causing substantial flooding across the state but also breaking local rainfall records.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), 167.2 millimetres of rain fell on Maryborough last month and while not record breaking, was the highest monthly rainfall for October since 1975, when 195 mm fell.
Last month’s rainfall total is well above the average for October, which sits at 49.3 mm going back to 1878.
October 13 and 14 were when the most rain fell, with 34.6 and 36.2 mm falling respectively, with five other days in the month seeing 10 mm of rainfall or more.
This heavy rainfall, combined with steady rain in neighbouring communities and along waterways in the district resulted in significant riverine flooding in the Central Goldfields, with all roads in and out of the shire blocked.
Significantly more rain fell during this year’s flood event compared to January 2011, when the Carisbrook township was inundated and 90.4 mm of rain fell locally, according to the BOM.
However, the amount of rain that fell during the September 2016 flood is almost identical to last month’s flooding, with a 166.7 mm deluge hitting the district just six years ago.
However, local flooding has primarily been caused by the Avoca River and its catchments, as well as Deep Creek, both breaking their banks due to rainfall.
While Maryborough did not break its October rainfall record this year, Avoca well and truly did with a 216.4 mm deluge lashing the community — well above the previous record of 122.9 mm in 1894.
Avoca also recorded its highest daily rainfall total for October, with 57 mm of rain on the seventh, just above the 56.4 mm recorded on the 14th in 1893, according to the BOM.
Looking forward, the BOM’s long-range forecast predicts rainfall will continue to occur above median for most of eastern Australia, including Victoria.
The long-range forecast also shows a cooler and wetter November to January period, with rainfall more likely during this period than in past years and the temperature also likely to be cooler than normal due to a number of factors, including the continued presence of La Niña.