La Nina's Influence Leaves Us Saturated
Illawarra Mercury
Wednesday February 6, 2008
JUST blame it on La Nina.
The once-in-a-decade climatic phenomenon we are experiencing is, as expected, producing the coolest and wettest summer in recent memory.La Nina, which raises sea temperatures here and drops them in the eastern Pacific, has arrived for the first time since the summer of 1998-99.Characteristics of La Nina are regular easterly winds that bring cool sea breezes - along with the rain.The barrage of water from the heavens in recent days was the result of a low pressure system off the coast and south-easterly winds, Bureau of Meteorology scientist Julie Evans said."Wollongong has been dramatically affected due to the extremity of the escarpment," she said.Wollongong had received 174mm of rain in 24 hours until 9am yesterday, Nowra 112mm, Kiama 169mm and Figtree 202mm.Between 9am and 3pm, the bureau recorded rainfall of 1mm in Wollongong, 20.2mm in Nowra and 31.2mm in Kiama.The total amount of rain in Wollongong so far in February, 233.8mm, is already greater than the monthly average for February, 150.6mm.Nowra has recorded 164.6mm this month, compared to its long-term February average of 119.7mm.
© 2008 Illawarra Mercury
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