Lowest rainfall on record

Updated November 5 2012 - 1:48pm, first published August 31 2006 - 1:09pm

BALLARAT moves to stage three water restrictions today after its driest winter on record.
Just 87mm of rain fell this winter - the lowest level since weather records began almost a century ago in 1908.
The grim winter rainfall count comes as Central Highlands Water moves restrictions up from stage two to stage three, effective from noon today.
August is traditionally Ballarat's wettest month, but the city only received 27mm, well below the monthly rainfall average of 75.4mm.
And the lack of rain is showing in our water storages, now sitting at just 22.8 per cent, equivalent to 14,702 megalitres.
Bureau of Meteorology climate meteorologist Dr Harvey Stern said yesterday it was Ballarat's "driest winter ever recorded".
A large number of high pressure systems had brought Ballarat frosty winter conditions but drier than average, clear skies, he said.
And Ballarat should brace itself for a drier than usual spring and a possible El Nino this year.
"The surface temperatures are beginning to warm up in the eastern Pacific, which might suggest the risk of an El Nino," he said.
"We should know in the next month."
Under the new stage three restrictions, gardens can only be watered with a hand-held hose between 6am and 8am and 8pm to 10pm.
But that watering will only be permitted on Sundays and Wednesdays for odd-numbered properties, and on Saturdays and Tuesdays for even-numbered properties.
No watering is allowed on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Central Highlands Water marketing officer Rebecca Mooney said the state-wide guidelines for restrictions offered a more uniform approach to conserving water.
"We continue to advise customers to be water-wise wherever possible in their water practises," she said.
For more information contact CHW's info line on 1800 044 636.

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