Rainfall

The region experienced wet and dry decades through the 20th century, and has shown a drying trend in rainfall since 1960, especially in autumn. The wet decades of the 1950s and 1970s were followed by a very significant period of drought, known as the Millennium Drought (1996 to 2009).

In the near future (2030) natural variability is projected to dominate trends due to greenhouse gas emissions. Understanding of climate drivers and associated rainfall processes (e.g. southward shift of winter storm systems), supported by climate model results, indicate rainfall decreases for winter and spring.

The projected decreases in rainfall are up to 25 per cent in winter, and up to 45 per cent in spring by 2090 under high emissions. By the middle of the century, under high emissions, winter and spring changes are projected to be evident against natural variability. Changes to summer and autumn rainfall are possible but not clear, although there is a tendency for a decrease in western Victoria in autumn.

Increased intensity of extreme rainfall events is projected. Even though annual mean rainfall is projected to decrease, understanding of the physical processes that cause extreme rainfall, coupled with modelled projections indicate a future increase in the intensity of extreme rainfall events. However, the magnitude of the increases cannot be confidently projected.

It is important to note that in Victoria, current models used to project future rainfall are considerably underestimating the actual rainfall decline trends.

For more information click here http://www.swclimatechange.com.au/cb_pages/regional_planning.php