1345.4 - SA Stats, Apr 2011  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 28/04/2011   
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WATER


RAINFALL

According to the Bureau of Meteorology's Seasonal Climate Summary for South Australia, Summer 2010-11 was the third wettest on record.

The well above average rainfall was predominantly a result of one of the strongest La Nina events on record. Forty seven locations, mainly in the east of the state, experienced their wettest summer on record and sixty seven locations had their highest ever daily rainfall in the summer period.

The highest total rainfall for the state was recorded in Ernabella (Pukatja), located in South Australia's pastoral district, with 341.8mm.

Rainfall Anomalies
Diagram: Rainfall Anomalies


Source: 3-monthly rainfall anomalies for South Australia, Australian Bureau of Meteorology


RESERVOIR LEVELS

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, Adelaide has experienced its wettest start to the year in 65 years, with March 2011 rainfall 3 to 5 times the average. As a result, Adelaide's March reservoir storage level of 73% is substantially higher than at the same time in 2010 (61%), and 2009 (57%).

TOTAL RESERVOIR STORAGE, As a percentage of capacity, Adelaide
Graph: TOTAL RESERVOIR STORAGE, As a percentage of capacity, Adelaide


Source: SA Water daily reservoir levels