Driest year in 19 follows wettest year
Last year was the driest year for the Peninsula in the 19 years with a total rainfall of 876.1mm for the year.
The total was just two thirds of the average annual rainfall of 1321mm, according to figures supplied by Mr Jim Morrison of Umina.
It follows a total rainfall of 2118.7mm the previous year, the wettest year in the same period, two thirds above average.
In July, the Peninsula had received only half the expected rainfall for that time of year.
The year would have finished with a similar figure had it not been for two above-average months at the end of the year.
At the start of November, the rainfall figure was 45 per cent below average.
Rainfall of 125.2mm in November and 132.3mm in December was 33 per cent and 42 per cent above average respectively.
In the first week of the year, 6.0mm has been recorded. The average rainfall for January is 118mm.
SOURCE:
Spreadsheet, 5 Jan 2024
Jim Morrison, Umina