Rain

Well, the weather has been exceptionally soggy. It's rained and rained, which reminds me of the following poem:

It rained and rained and rained
The average fall was well maintained
And when the tracks were simply bogs
It started raining cats and dogs
After a drought of half and hour
We had a most refreshing shower
And then the most curious thing
of all – a gentle rain began to fall
Next day but one was fairly dry
Save for one deluge from the sky
Which wetted the party to the skin
And then at last the rain set in.

This summer has been disastrous for those looking for sun and warmth! After many parts of Australia had been in drought for as much as 5-10 years, an El Nina has arrived with its constellation of storms. Empty dams are filling fast and long-standing water restrictions are being lifted. Armidale was hardly affected by the drought and we have a succession of fairly normal seasons, but we haven't been spared a soggy summer. With the best part of February to go we've had about 260 mm (over 10 inches) since the official start of summer on the 1st December.

AS