Fodder fears after dry spell

TASMANIA'S fodder season hangs in the balance after below-average rainfall during October. 

The latest long-range forecast is also not good news for farmers in parts of the state. In October, mean maximum temperatures were higher than average across Tasmania, and in the highest 10 per cent of records for some Central areas, North-East and King Island.

On October 19, Devonport Airport had its hottest October day on record at 25.9C. Tasmania’s mean maximum temperature was 0.99C higher than the 1961-1990 average, and the 10th highest on record for the month. 

The Bureau of Meteorology says rainfall was below average for most of Tasmania, but close to average for parts of the South and North-East. The area between Richmond and Orford, along with patches of the West and North-West, recorded monthly totals in the lowest 10 per cent for October. 

The bureau predicts a 60 to 80 per cent chance of below average rainfall from November to January in western Tasmania.

Australia’s national area averaged mean temperature in October was 2.51C above the 1961–1990 average, the second-highest for October since 1910. 

Both mean maximum and mean minimum temperatures were above average for most of the country. 

The national area-averaged mean maximum temperature was 2.81C above average, the fourth-highest on record for October since 1910, while the national area-averaged mean minimum was 2.21C above average, the second-highest. 

In Queensland, the area averaged mean temperature hit the highest recorded for October, 2.77C above the 1961–1990 average, surpassing the previous record set in 1988. 

For South Australia and Western Australia, the area averaged mean temperature was the second-highest and third highest on record respectively. 

The national area-averaged October rainfall total was 18.4 per cent below the 1961-1990 average. 

However, much of Western Australia, western regions of South Australia and parts of the Northern Territory and the east coast bucked the trend with more than average rains. 

Warm conditions persisted over most of northern Australia since the beginning of the month with daily maximum temperatures at times reaching 8C above the October average. 

Severe heatwaves developed in early October in many northern Australian regions and continued during most of the month, with heatwave warnings issued on most days. 

Australia’s area-averaged mean maximum temperature was 2.81C, the fourth-highest on record for October since 1910. 

Minimum temperatures were also higher, with the national area-averaged mean minimum 2.21C above average, the second-highest for October on record. 

The mean minimum temperatures for October were the highest on record for some areas scattered across central and western parts of the country. 

Some stations in these areas had their highest mean minimum temperature records for October.