It's raining! It's raining!

I hope your beautiful nine months begin soon, hinge.

Still more flooding in country areas:

http://www.theage.com.au/environment/wangaratta-and-shepparton-brace-benalla-gets-a-letoff-20100905-14w35.html

Watching the news tonight, I was taken with an old timer's reaction to his flooded local area. A mixture of awe & sheer delight at seeing rivers running like rivers should run, after so long ... and concern about likely damage to homes in his area at the same time. And that's about the size of it.

Some of you in other places around the globe may wonder about how come we appear to be so obsessed with talking about the weather, specifically rain ... Keep in mind that Australia is just about the most arid continent on earth (apart from our tropical bits). I'm writing from the state of Victoria, but the things we've been talking about could just as easily apply to so many other parts of the country. We are a nation of sky watchers, speculators about our weather. And we have pretty good reason to be that way.

I just checked ... I started this thread in 2002, thrilled & absolutely delighted at a surprise downpour in Melbourne, in the middle of a really dry spell. That dry spell has never really ended.

Yes the rain has stopped for the day, but how wonderful to have what we have had.
Nearby is a small inland lake called Lake Meran, an absolute wonderful haven during our long hot summers. Perfect for families to gather and camp, swim, water ski, fish, All manner of fun. Unfortunately with this long drought, the lake has been dry for 7 years. I have been there wandering on the dry lake bed, found shoes, bottles and all manner of bits and pieces.
The only way for the Lake to receive water is to be flooded by the Loddon River. It is not utilised by the irrigation network so therefore is not a priority.
With all this rain and the flooding we are getting, water is now entering the lake. Many concerned but excited people have been there tidying up the foreshore, clearing trees which have grown. Tidying up in readiness for the Lake to hopefully return to its wonderful natural beauty.
I was out there myself last weekend and saw water returning, the frogs are so noisy and the birds are also joining in. Oh a magnificent and uplifting sight to see.

and when I work out how to, I will upload some pics.

Lake Meran - 28th August 2010 - Dry

Lake Meran - 5th September 2010 - Just a bit

Lake Meran - 9th September 2010

Lake Meran - 12th September - A bit more

Lake Meran - 12th September - If you look very carefully you can see the old diving platform on the right of the pic. You can also see the distance to the waters edge today.

Hello, again, Nettie.
When I first spoke to you on that other thread on Friday night, I had no idea you were Australian, say nothing of a Victorian. Let me welcome you again!

Thanks for your posts & the photographs. I'm delighted you got your lake back! And that the frogs & birds are so happy.
I must confess I had to Google "Lake Meran" & check out maps to be certain of where it was.

It's been wonderful, hearing just how thrilled country Victorians & South Australians have been by the recent deluge. (Yes, I know people's homes were flooded & some had to be evacuated ... not much fun for them, I'm certain. ) But to have those rivers flowing again, like 10 years ago, how fantastic!

Hi msolga, nice to meet you too.
I was a bit worried my pics are a bit large but as I am new here I am sure someone will point out any issues.
I love chatting to people and my hubby is an avid weather watcher. Just got him a new camera for his birthday so he is a bit snap happy.

Not to worry about the size of the photographs, Nettie.
A perfect sequence of events, in full detail!

This is a bit of a change!
Any minute now it's about to start!
I will keep you all posted! :



http://www.theage.com.au/environment/weather/prepare-for-one-months-rain-in-just-24-hours-20101028-174ld.html?autostart=1

No rain here just yet in Northern Victoria. it is now 11.30 am, very overcast, still warm. The ground is still extremely dry around here and able to soak up much more. Our Lake Meran is even fuller. Ron my hubby took a pic of it last week to continue with the series he has done.

http://on.fb.me/daAy6z
Link to the latest Lake Meran Pic

Great series of photos Nettie. Really interesting to see.

We were supposed to get 40 mlls yesterday, and it did rain steadily but generally softly most of the day...I don't think it was anywhere near as much rain, though.

Good luck to you guys...I hope you get heaps!! But nobody gets hurt.

Edit: I can't find what Adelaide got...but there sure was some rain around the state!
South Australia receives heavy rainfall
Douglas Fenton, Friday October 29, 2010 - 19:12 EDT
Thick cloud blanketed most of South Australia on Friday bringing some heavy rainfall.

Rain and isolated storms spread across South Australia today, bringing heavy rain to the Northwest Pastoral, Western Agricultural and Central districts.

Places such as Whyalla received 4.2mm of rainfall in just 10 minutes and Wudinna picked up 3.6 mm in ten minutes.

Nullarbor picked up 30 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours to 9am, their highest for October in at least 34 years. Wudinna received 25 mm, their highest daily total for October in at least 15 years.

The rain and cloud were brought in by a trough dragging in tropical moisture from the northwest and were enhanced by an approaching cold front.

A severe thunderstorm warning for damaging winds and flash flooding was issued on Friday afternoon for people in the Northwest Pastoral and Northeast Pastoral districts.

Cloud and northeasterly winds also brought warm temperatures last night across the state. Adelaide only fell to 21 degrees, which made it the warmest night since March.

The rain will ease to just scattered showers in South Australia tomorrow as the trough and front move east. But, the brisk southwest winds will strengthen.

- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2010

Checking the sky constantly & waiting, waiting, waiting for the big dramatic event!
Still warm (as it was overnight), overcast & rather muggy in the city of Melbourne at midday, Saturday ..

(Thanks for your next batch of photographs, Nettie. Make sure you have your camera at the ready tomorrow, after the deluge! )

A bit of a fizzer in Adelaide, Deb?
Oh well, there's always November to go, yet ... one of our most "volatile " weather months here, so probably yours, too. (Seeing as you're right next door! )

since my last post just over an hour ago. The deluge has started, 5 mm so far, our water tanks are overflowing. Ron found a realy good way of checking the rain gauge without getting wet. He got out his camera with the telephoto lens, clever man.