JUNE RAINFALL AVERAGES

By Richard McGeachy

Up until the last week of June we received what would be better described as showerfalls than significant
rainfall. There were recordings on ten of the first fourteen days of the month – with a mere 6mm being the
highest daily total. Fortunately just like May we were redeemed in the last week on June, with over 55mm
of rain falling to push the monthly total 7mm beyond the average. This was also the highest June total
since 2005 when we received a thoroughly drenching 154mm! (4th highest on record).

The table below compares this season with the average of 1891 to 2009 as recorded in the Kay Brothers
Amery diary.
Table 1: Rainfall 2010 compared to longterm rainfall average.
September

November

December
Averages

February

October
January

August
March

Yearly
(mm)

April

June
May

July

1891-
2009 19.32 19.48 24.39 45.28 67.43 78.63 75.47 65.71 56.60 44.06 28.92 25.20 550.49
Longterm

2010 14.20 3.40 26.00 57.50 55.20 85.50 - - - - - - 241.80

'2010'
minus
-5.12 -16.08 1.61 12.22 -12.23 6.87 - - - - - - -12.72
'1891-
2009'
WINTER IRRIGATION MAY BE IMPORTANT!

Prior to this rain moisture hadn’t penetrated much beyond 30-40cm (across all soils), with some sites
actually drier than they were after their post harvest irrigation.

This is a concern. This means the soil is dry at depth – where the vines need it to sustain them over
summer. Hopefully we’ll receive some good falls in the coming weeks to help fill the subsoil and flush the
root zone.

The graph below is taken from one of our moisture monitoring sites site south of McLaren Flat. The
moisture level is no greater than it would be after an irrigation.