Due to low dam water levels – water bombing helicopters resorted to collecting water from local residents’ swimming pools as they battled to contain bushfires burning south-west of Sydney.
NSW dams hit critically low levels across the state – Border Rivers 4%, Coastal 32%, Gwydir 7%, Hunter 42%, Lachlan 15%, Lower-Darling 0.5%, Macquarie 9%, Murray 43%, Murrumbidgee 40%, Namoi 0.9%, Peel 16%
Low flows have been observed at 86% of locations across Australia in November & December.
The positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) continues to be the main influence on Australian climate.
BOM says there remains a very low chance of exceeding median rainfall for the month ahead
Severe restrictions for Greater Sydney residents are now in place
NSW water supply is dropping at the fastest rate in history and severe water restrictions are now in place
Level 2 water restrictions apply to everyone in Sydney, Blue Mountains and the Illawarra.
A rebate of $2,000 will be provided to assist eligible landholders with the costs of carting water or installing associated infrastructure to support domestic water supplies.
On 11th January 2020, Dum-In-Mirrie in NT breaks the record for highest daily rainfall – 562mm in just 24 hours.
