Downpour breaks Wagga records

WAGGA’s record for annual rainfall was officially broken yesterday. Figures from the Bureau of Meteorology indicate that 110.2mm of rain fell in the region from Sunday until 9am yesterday.The new data exceeded the highest reading on record, a measurement of 104.1 mm over 24 hours recorded on the March 16, 1966.Sunday’s reading indicates a new record for not only the month of March, but annually. The bureau has reported that a total of 167.2mm of rain has been recorded over the last four days.Nigel Phillips, from the bureau, commented on the recent torrential rain.“This is highly unusual for this time of year.” she said.The average from January 1 through to March 31 is normally 120.7mm.The current reading from January 1 through to March 8 has already reached 259.2mm.Rainfall has already doubled last year’s record and there are still 22 days of March remaining. Four main factors have contributed to the unusual weather patterns experienced in the Riverina: there has been a high-pressure system developing over the Tasman directing humid northerly winds across a trough in NSW; the trough is slow moving; a low pressure system has moved across east Adelaide and there is an upper level trough.Scattered showers have been predicted for today.