Harvest finally starts after wet spring

Above average rain in Warragul again last month pushed the three-month spring total almost 90 millimetres over the 155-year average.

September, October and November all registered above average monthly totals for a combined 385.7 millimetres.

The average for that period is 297.7 millimetres.

In Warragul, 107.7 millimetres was recorded last month, 17 millimetres above average, but the last fortnight was virtually dry – only 3.9 millimetres of rain fell.

Close by at Nilma North, a short storm dumped 51.8 millimetres at the Bureau of Meteorology’s weather station in the 24 hours to 9 a.m. on November 25.

But at Warragul and many other parts of the district there was not a drop of rain at that time.

The downpour boosted Nilma North’s November total to 159.6 millimetres and to 423.6 millimetres for spring.

Higher areas in the shire were again generally the wettest last month.

Mount Baw Baw received 230 millimetres, Yarragon South 203 and Erica 183 including a huge 84 millimetres on November 15.

However, Thorpdale got just 78.5 millimetres for November.

Fine and warms days last week to start summer gave farmers and agricultural contractors a chance to make up some of the lost silage cutting time due to the steady spring rains.

A couple of late afternoon storms last week brought some rain in small pockets of Baw Baw Shire, but most areas remained dry.

So far this year Warragul has received 983.9 millimetres and is well on track to exceed the 1005.1 annual average and post its third successive year where the figure has exceeded 1000 millimetres.