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Wednesday 11 October 2000 |
Unseasonable
frosts cause damage in Victoria Record low temperatures in the southeast Snow in Tasmania Drought continues despite rain in SE Qld and NE NSW |
Clear skies under
a high pressure system caused several record low October temperatures this
morning in the southeast of the nation, with late frosts causing concern
over frost damage to crops in Victoria's northwest. Nhill
recorded a minimum of -2.0, equal to its previous lowest October minimum
in 38 years of computerised records. This followed a minimum of -1.6 on
Monday morning. Laverton Airport, between Melbourne and Geelong,
had its coldest October morning in 57 years with a minimum of zero. Local
agronomists fear that some crops may have suffered damage. Field peas in
the Hopetoun area of western Victoria appear the worst affected with
damage rates between 15 and 75%. In South Australia, Parafield, north
of Adelaide, broke a 38 year record with a minimum on 1.6 while Swan
Island, off the northeastern coast of Tasmania, recorded a record
low of 4.3. Widespread light snow was reported across Tasmania overnight,
with falls as low as Maydena in the upper Derwent Valley, and at Lake Leake
in the northeastern highlands.
Light rain across southern Queensland and northeastern NSW yesterday and overnight have given some hope though little relief to farmers in the area. In the Crows Nest area northwest of Brisbane, water is being carted as homestead supplies dry up, while farther north in the Burnett shires of Gayndah, Eidsvold and Monto, councils are seeking government drought relief. In NSW, a large area of the state's north has been declared a drought area, stretching from near Moree to east of Tenterfield and south to Narrabri and Tamworth. Crops that only a few months ago were promising bumper harvests are being turned over to stock. A surrounding area stretching from the NSW Central Coast to the Queensland border in the northwest has been described as in marginal drought. Coffs Harbour and neighbouring towns have tightened water restrictions, with sprinkler watering permitted only 30 minutes daily. |
Today's highest rainfall totals for the 24 hours to 9am 41.2 Wyndham PO WA High falls for other periods: . |
Today's highest & lowest temps |
Records set this day Lowest
minimum temperature for October (previous
record and years of computerised record shown in brackets): |
|
Maximum | Minimum | ||
39.5
Marble Bar WA 39.5 Wollogorant NT 39.5 Victoria River Downs NT |
28.0 Dum In Mirrie NT | ||
2.2 Mt Read Tas | -6.6 Charlotte Pass NSW | ||
Greatest variations from normal |
|||
Maximum | Minimum | ||
+8.2 31.0 Eucla AP WA |
+8.4 16.0 Salmon Gums WA |
||
-8.4 15.2 Muirne Tabulam NSW |
-9.5 -2.4 Nhill Vic |
|