Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), Thursday 12 February 1953, page 53


Only 35 stations ^reported above-average totals

1952 Rainfall Well

Below Normal

RAINFALL for 1952 was below average in

about 85 per cent of the State, according to a summary issued recently by the Department

of the Interior.

In the sub-tropics the district averages were all below normal, deficits ranging from 31 per cent in the north coastal subdivision to . 4 per cent in the central coastal and south coastal sub-divisions.

In the tropics the Fortescue division received an excess of 24 per cent, while- in the remainder deficits ranged from 59 per cent, in the West Kimberley division to 12 per cent in the North Kim-berley division.

Throughout ther State only 35 stations reported rainfall above the average.

Largest Surpluses

'JHE largest surpluses were

along the west coast from Mardie to Carnarvon, and in a strip about 40 miles wide along the south coast from Albany to Esperance.

Other ábove-normal districts were the Perth-Bunbury-Marrar dong-Mundartng area, the Mar-garet River-Augusta and Kalgoorlie-Norseman regions. Iso-lated stations in the De Grey, such as Indee and Callawa, were also above average.

The highest rainfall recorded at a daily reporting station was 49.95 inches .( 1 per cent above normal) at Dwellingup. The lowest was at Laverton where 3.94 inches (57 per cent below the normal) was recorded.

Rainfall in the tropics was highest along the most northerly part of the coast and to a lesser degree along the coast of the Fortescue division. Totals were lowest inland between the De Grey and Fitzroy Rivers.

They were generally well be-low normal till the end of March, but some relief was ob-tained in May when all tropical divisions except the Kimberleys reported unusually good falls.

The rains of the wet season due to commence in November were disappointing, but a few good falls were registered towards the end of December in the Kimber-leys.

In The Wheatbeli

JN the wheatbelt rainfall was

mostly below normal due

mainly to the failure of the! June rains. Totals, however, : were heavier in the southern

agricultural districts. Winter i rains commenced early in May ] but were followed by a dry spell ? and a few crops, had begun to : burn off by the end of June.

July rainfall saved most of ] these but failures were reported J in northern and eastern districts j

where insufficient rain was re- ]

ceived. j

Another dry spell was experi- ? enced over August and Septem- < ber, but late October rains saved \ many crops previously regarded ;

: as failures. In the south coastal

( and central coastal subdivisioin ! similar conditions existed but " falls were generally heavier and 1 more frequent.

^ Rainfall in the pastoral dis

? tricts was very low, only one

division, the Fortescue, being , above average and the others

varying from 1 per cent to 59 " per cent below normal.

Following are the recordings of » weather stations in the various 1 divisions.

Total Average Division and for for 30

; Station. 1952. years.

NORTH KIMBERLEY.

Wyndham .... 1,948 2,664 Drysdale Mission . 2.475 3,664

EAST KIMBERLEY.

Hall's Creek Aero . 999 -, Pallotine Mission . 629 -

[ WEST KIMBERLEY.

Fitzroy Crossing . 931 2,117 Derby . . . . . . 747 2,545 Broome. 1,254 2,301 La Orange Bay . . 642 1,870 Anna.Plains .... 514 1.496

DE GREY.

Port Hedland ... 1.213 -Roebourne. 996 -Whim Creek . . . 1,037 -Marble Bar .... 761

Nullagine. 828 -Bonny Downs . .. . , 777 -

FORTESCUE.

Wittenoom Gorge . 1,205 -Onslow ....... 1,830 933 Mardie. 1.674 886 Roy Hill. 638 1,036 Ethel Creek.. . . . 831 1,069

WEST GASCOYNE.

The Junction ... 427 851 Carnarvon ..... 1,176 908 Shark Bay . ... . . 986 893 Wooramel. 777 786 Hamelin Pool . . . 822 790

EAST GASCOYNE.

Mundiwindi .... 900 1,102 Three Rivers ... 707 916 Peak Hill ..... 908 933

EAST GASCOYNE.

Meekatharra . . . 700 935 Nannine . .... 429 797 Cue. 774 873 Boolardy ..... 560 793 Murgoo. 494 821 Yuin ........ 849 828 Yalgoo ....... 796 1,104 Mt. Magnet . . . . 419 -.924

SOUTH-WEST.

(North Coastal Subdivision.)

Ajana :. 744 1,331 Northampton . . . 1,529 1,986 Yuna East ..... 865 1*269 Chapman Research

Farm ...... 1,173 1,826 Mullewa. 766 1,310 Geraldton ..... 1,136 1,843 Greenough . ... 1,341 - 1.948 Dongara. 1,433 1,853 Nangetty. 1,044 1,457 Mingenew .... 1,063 1,643 Three Springs ... 955 1,581 Carnamah .... 933 1,578 Coorow ...... 1,115 1,583 Watheroo Obs. . . 1,182 1.634 Canna ....... 974 1.481 Morawa. 892 1,400 Perenjori. 819 1,340 Latham. 801 1,203 Buntine. 812 1,412 Wubin. 740 1,196 Dalwallinu. 900 1,422 Ballidu. 871 1.32H Kondut ...... 1,259 1,380 Wongan Hills . . . 1,228 1,501 Miling ..... 1,008 1,621 Coomberdale . . . 1,225 1,751 Berkshire Valley . 1,430 1,784 Walebing. 1,768 2.020 Moora . 1,433 1,829 Barberton . . . . 1,648 1,800

SOUTH-WEST.

(Central Coastal Subdivision.)

Dandaragan .... 1,753 2,652 New Norcia .... 1,805 2,136 Gingin. 2,724 3,078 Chidlow. 3,483 3.814 Mundaring . . . . 4,517 4,392 Perth Observatory . 3,928 3,490 Fremantle ..... 3,196 3.026 Rottnest. 3,489 2,859 Kalamunda .... 4,211 4,305 Guildford. 3.515 3.400 Armadale. 3,671 3,638 Rockingham .... 3,225 3,300 Jarrahdale . . . . 4*777 4,771

SOUTH-WEST.

(South Coastal Subdivision.)

Mandurah .... 3,132 3,534 Pinjarra .... 3,786 3*784 Dwellingup .... 4,995 4.927 Marradong .... 2.974 3,952 Waroona ..... 4.308 . 4,109 Harvey. 4,016 4,014 Brunswick. 4,545 4.112 Collie. 3,472^ 3,941 Bunbury. 2,966 3,497 Donnybrook .... 3,227 4,065 Greenbushes . . . 3,349 3,881 Boyup Brook . . .. 2,427 2,733 Bridgetown .... 2,689 3,418 Nannup ...... 3,298 3.914 Busselton .... 2,953 3,248 Cape Naturaliste . 3,527 3.284 Margaret River . . 4,839 4,598 Cape Leeuwin . . . 3,932 3,885. Manjimup. 3.619- 4,26& Pemberton ..... 4,685 5,364 Kendenup. 2,362 2,489 Mt. Barker .... 3,089 2,929 Denmark. 4,383 4,685 Albany . .... . 3,891 3,762 Eclipse Island . . 3,565 3,346 Hopetoun . . . . , 1,977 1,976 Esperance .... 2.945 2,632

SOUTH-WEST.

(Central Subdivision.)

Xantippe ..... 742 1,379 Kalannie . : . . . 755 1,215 Kulja. 898 1.135 Mollerin ..... 746 1,110 Wialki. . 830 1.167 Mukinbudin .... 868 1,026 Burracoppin . . . . 1,076 1.226 Merredin ..... 1,108 1.300 Newcarnie . . . , . 943 1,222 Nungarin ..... 908 1,214 Kununoppin .... 888 1.172 Trayning . ... . 923 1,265 Bencubbin. 1,025 1,208 Gabbin ...... 1,034 1,313 Koorda. 886 1,122 Cadoux. 1,056 1,376 Wyalkatchem . . . 983 1.348 Korrelocking . . . 991 1,355 Minnivale ...... 1,135 1.398 Dowerin ..... 1,175 1.484 Goomalling .... 1,280 1,420 Calingiri ..... 1.718 1,771 Bolgart . . ... 1,597 1,852 Toodyay . ..... 2,128 2,149 Northam ..... 1,582 1.711 York ...... 1,785 1.772 Meckering. 1.360 1,531 Cunderdin . , . . 1,166 1,465 Tammin. 1.124 1,378 Kellerberrin .... 1.142 1,333 Doodlakine .... 1,010 1,239 Bruce Rock .... 1,066 1,383

SOUTH-WEST.

Central South Subdivision.)

tuairading . . . . 1,337 1,527

everley.' 1,553 1,689 Brookton . . ... 1,621 1,846 Corrigin . . , . . 1,311 1,580 Narembeen .... 955 1,191 Hyden. 1,216 1,386 Kondinin. 1,022 1,375 Kulin. . 1,138 1,561 Dudinin ..... 1.522 1,586 Pingelly ...... 1,882 1,768 Wickepin ... . . 1,665 1.661 Narrogin . ..... 1.840 2.015 Wandering .... 2.208 2,568 Williams ..... 1.853 2,143 Darkan ...... 2,235 2,265 Arthur. 1.760 1,947 Wagin. 1,540 1.770 Dumbleyung .... 1.581 1,649 Kukerin . . . . . . 1,509 1,710 Lake Grace . . . . 1,242 1,483 Newdegate . .... 1,223 1.414 Lake Varley . . . . 1,212 1.389 Lake King . . . . 1,354 1,869 Pingrup . . .... 1,488 1,520 Nyabing . . . . . . 1.589 1,689 Badgebup . . . . . 1.567 1,567 Katanning . . . 1,672 1.882 Broome Hill . . . . 1,500 1.821 Kojonup . ..... 1,958 2,209 Tambellup . . . , . 1,728 1,864 Cranbrook . \ . . . 2.070 2,012 gnowangerup . . . 1.344 1,656

ngerup . :. . . . 1.441 1,578 Borden. 1,367 - 1,388 Jarramongup . . . 1,608 1,540 Ravensthorpe ... 1.87fi 1,599 South-Caroling . . 1,162 1,341

! EUCLA.

Rawlinna ..... 543 678 Eucla. 958 . 997 Loongana. 448 ~* 651 Forrest ...... 457 8Ö5

SOUTH-EASTERN.

Sandstone .... 649 911 Kathleen Valley ; . 745 823 Leonora . . . . 655 860 Murrin Murrin . . 623 898 Laverton. 394 912 Yundamindera . . 460 887 Menzies. 715 951 Davyhurst ..... 810 1,035 Bulong ...... 842 938 Kalgoorlie .... 805 - 959 Coolgardie .... 1,154 1,024 Zanthus ..... 350 840 Widgiemooltha . . 1,102 1,103 Norseman . . , . 1,139 1.078 Salmon Gums . . . 1,231 . 1,360 Grass Patch .... 1,412 * 1,465 Marvel Loch . . . 959 1,254 Southern Cross . . 693 1.051 Bullfinch. 728 1,142 Westonia. 979 1.281 Walgoolan .... 920 1.214 Agnew. 1.024 -

NORTH EASTERN.

Wiluna. 870 980

Warburton Ranges 978 1,195 , Eraheedy. 629 -