Rain finally fell over the dry southeast, with more on the way

Parts of southwest Victoria and southeast SA finally picked up some decent rain, and the rain bearing weather systems are lining up to deliver more. 

The broad area from Adelaide to Melbourne is usually guaranteed to see rain at this time of year, after the break in autumn and regularly during winter. They’re in a great spot to feel the brunt of cold fronts as they cross the Bight and head over the southeast.   

This year has been very different with high pressure dominating the weather pattern and blocking these weather systems from moving through.

The drought map shows us that a large part of this usually rainy area are affected, and in a comparison from year to year, much of this land is 100 to 200 mm short of where they should be.

Extent of the drought in southeastern Australia in autumn and winter

In lovely news, rainfall was projected to fall late last week - and it actually delivered. 

Not just hit and miss activity, but much of the area picking up a handy fall. Thanks to a ‘cut off’ low that wandered through delivering rain to those in its path. 

15 to 40 mm fell across southwestern Victoria and southeastern SA, but if you’re further inland towards the Mallee it was only a few millimetres up to 10mm. The low wasn’t able to impact these areas quite as well. 

Extent of the drought in southeastern Australia in autumn and winter

We’re not done - there is more on the way!

High pressure is still having a detrimental impact - but less so than it has in the past. Instead we’ll have a conveyor belt of cold fronts line up to impact southeastern Australia one after another, after another. 

They don’t have a tropical connection, and the high won’t let them push through as far as they could - so if you’re north of the ranges the rainfall totals taper off pretty fast. 

But if you’re in that key drought area between Adelaide and Melbourne, there is another 15 to 40 mm on the way over the next week. 

Projections for rain in the next week (Wednesday 21st to Wednesday 28th August)

See when and how much rain is likely at your spot, by checking the full outlook at Jane’s Weather.