Drought in Australia: Drought of 1982-83

http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/environ/drought1982-83.shtml
Date and location
Short but sharp drought of 1982-83.
Date

Event

Autumn 1982

Almost winter

June-July

The end of August

Spring 1982

November

24 November 1982

By the years end

February 1983

1st and the 8th

March

12th

12th to the 23rd

Reasonable rains were fairly widespread

except from southern WA which had an
exceptionally dry Autumn.
Intense drought became established in most
areas of a line from Alice Springs to Ceduna.
Clear skies and low atmospheric moisture
levels accompanied by severe frosts
The wheat crop in Eastern Australia was on
the verge of failure
Sheep prices plummeted as graziers reduced
flocks
Dry conditions persisted over eastern
Australia except in coastal parts of northern
NSW.
Large areas experienced record or near
record low rainfall totals from April to
December
Dry soil was blown away as dust
Water restrictions were imposed in Melbourne
The upper Murrumbidgee River became a
chain of waterholes
The earliest Total Fire Ban in 40 years was
proclaimed in Victoria
The reservoirs fell to levels not known for
many years.
The summer wet season failed in the Northern
Territory and north Queensland with a record
low summer rainfall in some areas.
Only northeastern NSW and south eastern
QLD truly escaped the drought.
The nadir was reached with record low rainfalls
in parts of Tasmania and virtually none at all in
Victoria.
Fires flared in south eastern Tasmania and
spectacular dust storms swept through
Victoria.
Fires burnt unchecked for most of the month
Relief came at last. The first rains arrived at
grape harvest time in South Australia and
Victoria
An intense low pressure system then
developed over northwestern Australia and
over the next week, drifted eastward with
heavy rain and flooding.
The system then tracked south over NSW and
VIC, reaching Tasmania by the 23rd.
Substantial rain fell over almost all of the
drought area with many record March totals.

April and May

Abundant rains signified the end of the drought

The economic, environmental and social impacts

Total losses attributed to this drought exceeded $3 billion.
This drought transformed El Nino from an abstract climate phenomenon to common languaeg and set the
scene for many of todays climate forecasting techniques.
This drought had an enormous impact on the environment with crops and plants dying out due to the hot and
dry conditions. This damage done to the ecosystem affected the natural order of the flora and fauna in
Australia.
How individuals, community-based groups and different levels of government have responded to this
hazard.
There was a lower recommended water usage and people were encouraged to install water tanks.
A total fire ban was put in place in Victoria
There was water restrictions
sprinklers were banned
only on certain days could you use the hose
Graziers reduced their flocks of sheep.