We watch our water levels like hawks out in the country – and a look back at our winters from 2010 to 2013 shows why, with extremes of flood, drought and destructive storms in that short period of time.
Winter 2010: A warm, dry winter heralded the grim prospect of a green drought for local farmers, with dry dams in August when they should have been overflowing. The same month, Preston River levels dropped so low sandbanks appeared in the watercourse. Rainfall levels were about half of the average for local areas at this time.
Winter 2011: A series of cold fronts eased the pressure on locals, allowing the water corporation to cease carting water to towns such as Kirup – while warning there was still a long way to go.
Winter 2012: A catastrophic storm in June of 2012 ensured local areas got their fair share of water in a very short space of time – as well as cutting a swathe of destruction through the entire South West and knocking out power in some areas for over a week.
Winter 2013: Over 124mm of rain in a week caused flooding in August 2013, giving dams a still much-needed boost.