THE most significant rainfall over the past week was confined to the south-west and south-east areas of the continent, and north east Queensland, with only light falls in some adjoining agricultural regions.

Past seven days: For the week to 31 August 2021, rainfall was recorded in most of eastern New South Wales excluding the Mid North Coast and the north-east districts, north-western Tasmania, and southern South Australia. Rainfall was also recorded in the north tropical to central coasts and adjacent inland districts of Queensland, as well as in the south-west of Western Australia.

At the start of the week, a low pressure system and an occluded cold front around the low were situated just off the central coast of New South Wales. The systems generated widespread moderate falls from the central to south-east coast and adjacent inland areas of New South Wales, and eastern Victoria. In the north, easterly flow resulted in showers in the north-western Top End in and around Darwin in the Northern Territory.

The low pressure system moved slowly south-southeast towards the central Tasman Sea and weakened, but continued to generated moderate falls over East Gippsland as the low and associated cloudband brought showers and a southerly wind surge into eastern Victoria until the middle of the week.

Meanwhile in the west, a pre-frontal trough and cold front moved across south-west Western Australia, and brought light to moderate falls to the south-west of that state.

In the second half of the week, the cold front passed over southern South Australia, and brought mainly light falls to southern parts of South Australia, the western half of Victoria and north-west Tasmania. The cold front crossed the western and central parts of New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, before weakening to a surface trough over eastern Australia. Further moderate falls were recorded in north-eastern Victoria, elevated areas of the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales, and northern Tasmania.

Showers developed to the east of the surface trough that extended north along eastern Queensland, with light to moderate falls recorded in central to south-east Queensland and some adjacent inland districts.

In the west, embedded weak cold fronts in a westerly flow continued to produce light rainfall in the south-west of Western Australia until the end of the week.

At the end of the week, a surface trough and upper-level disturbance brought showers and thunderstorms with moderate falls recorded from the north tropical to central Queensland coast, and the Central Highlands and Coalfields districts in Queensland.

Rainfall totals in excess of 100 mm were reported in East Gippsland in Victoria, including the highest weekly total of 130 mm at Gabo Island Lighthouse.

Rainfall totals between 50 mm and 100 mm were recorded in north-eastern Victoria; also in areas around the Herbert and Lower Burdekin, the Central Coast, and Central Highlands and Coalfields districts in Queensland

Rainfall totals between 10 mm and 50 mm were recorded in the south-west parts to the south of Perth in Western Australia, small areas in the north-western Top End in and around Darwin in the Northern Territory, southern South Australia, south-west and eastern Victoria, and north-west Tasmania. Similar totals were recorded along the central and south-east New South Wales coast, and areas in the north tropical to the central coast and adjacent inland districts of Queensland.

 

Highest weekly totals list and map

New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory

86 mm Robertson (The Pie Shop)

74 mm Jervis Bay NSW

71 mm Kiama (Brighton St)

Victoria

130 mm Gabo Island Lighthouse

113 mm Mallacoota

101 mm Orbost

Queensland

81 mm Mount Charlton

77 mm Farleigh Co-Op Sugar Mill

70 mm Mount Jukes

Western Australia

83 mm Walpole Forestry

63 mm North Walpole

61 mm Windy Harbour

South Australia

21 mm Piccadilly (Woodhouse)

20 mm Elliston, Parndana (Turkey Lane), Parndana AWS

Tasmania

45 mm Loongana (Serendipity)

39 mm Erriba (Jubb Road)

35 mm Yolla (Sea View)

Northern Territory

55 mm East Arm

29 mm Middle Point

28 mm Knuckey Lagoon