Despite Some Rain, NSW Drought Intensifies - 98% Of State Now In Drought Conditions - SMH

[hatrack]

Despite recent rains, NSW plunged deeper into the big dry last month, with a mere two per cent of the state now considered unaffected by drought. The area of NSW considered drought-affected rose half a per cent in December to 93.2 per cent, with another 4.7 per cent declared marginal, according to the latest figures.

Just 2.1 per cent of the state was experiencing satisfactory conditions, Primary Industries minister Ian Macdonald said today. "The state is still gripped with what is clearly the worst drought in over 100 years," Mr Macdonald told reporters.

"It continues to play havoc with our regional areas in particular where the low dam capacities along the Great Divide mean that we have to take extraordinary measures to try and ensure that we can supply stock and domestic and town water supplies."

Falls of up to 40mm were recorded in the central west, Hunter and southern tablelands over Christmas and the New Year, but overall rain was patchy and isolated. "It's certainly not drought-breaking rainfall by any stretch of the imagination," he said.

EDIT

http://www.smh.com.au/news/scorchedearth/drought-worsens-despite-rain/2007/01/07/1168104857080.html

[rurallib]

1. Could Pat Robertson come down and help pray them out of this?