Drought 'already here' as Australia has driest three months ever

Australia just had its driest three months on record, and it's not going to let up soon.

The Bureau of Meteorology's November drought statement, issued yesterday, showed just how parched the country is, with some areas experiencing record-low levels of rainfall.

Nationwide, October rainfall was the fifth-lowest since 1900 - down 65.4 per cent on the long-term 1961-1990 average, and every state and territory except Victoria dropped below their own averages.

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Western Australia had its driest month since 1900, with 83.5 per cent less rain than average.

Queensland's rain was 83.8 per cent below average, and South Australia's was 76.4 per cent below.

And the month wasn't an outlier.

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The Bureau's numbers showed that August to October was, on average, the driest three-month period Australia has ever had, with an average rainfall of 22.63mm.

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said recently that farmers around the country were already facing drought conditions.

"The drought has already arrived for thousands of farming families," he said.

"Lower than average rainfall and higher than average temperatures and have plunged families back into financial and emotional turmoil."

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BOM's long-range forecast released last week suggested below-average rain for the next three months - November to January - was extremely likely for much of Australia.

This matches up to the prediction of the World Meteorological Organisation, released today, that the current El Nino weather pattern will remain until "at least" April next year.

"Extreme events such as heatwaves, drought, wildfires, heavy rain and floods will be enhanced in some regions, with major impacts," WMO secretary-general Professor Petteri Taalas said.