Two Australian states in the grips of drought after winter dry spell
Two Australian states are in the grips of a drought following a distinct lack of rainfall for most of the year.
Large parts of South Australia and Victoria experienced "lacklustre rainfall" over the past seven months and Adelaide is capping off one of its driest wet seasons on record, Weatherzone reports.
An intense high-pressure anomaly is to blame for below-average rainfall during the cooler months in SA, Victoria and some parts of southern NSW.
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Rainfall over the past seven months in southern parts of Australia were below average. Bureau of Meteorology
Farmers in particular felt the pressure of drought-like conditions over the past seven months.
Rural areas in SA and Victoria saw under 60 per cent of the average rainfall over winter between April and October.
This means both states didn't receive the usual 150mm of seasonal rainfall during this period.
Adelaide also only received a total of 248mm of rainfall during the same season, Weatherzone said.
This is around 110mm below average.
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Farmers in particular felt the pressure of drought-like conditions over the past seven months. Weatherzone
There's no indication there will be heavier rainfall for either South Australia or Victoria soon.
The warm, dry conditions will likely trigger an early start to the fire season in parts of SA and Victoria, according to the seasonal bushfire outlook.
"Fire authorities are advising communities of the potential for an early start to the fire season in parts of SA and Victoria, and extending to Tasmania if warm and dry conditions continue to dry out fuels towards summer," it warned.
Climate scientists have warned this prolonged drought period is an indicator of more extreme weather conditions across the country and should be considered a "climate emergency".
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Droughts are devastating to Australia's agricultural regions. David Gray/Getty Images
Ian Lowe, emeritus professor in the School and Environment and Science at Griffith University, said longer fire seasons are expected in future.
"We are seeing a longer fire season across large parts of the country, an increase in extreme fire weather and a broad drying trend accompanied by more severe rainfall events and serious flooding," he said.
"Significant changes to rainfall patterns are affecting our capacity to produce our food.
"We are clearly facing what several local authorities have recognised as a climate emergency."
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