Wet! Wet! Wet! Paul Rosser’s Weather Report for June 26

Wow!! What a great June rainfall. 129.0mm for the month, taking the Year to Date (YTD) to 290.5mm. This was the third highest falls since we joined the AAEV in 2011. The 18th of June was a particularly good fall of 29.0mm. This occurred when tropical rain from Broome met a cold wet front from Albany dumping much needed rain on our area. That put 28,000 litres into our 50,000litre tank, taking it up to around 45,000 litres of storage.

How did this compare with the month of June over the last 15 years:

Year Month YTD

2026 129.0mm (3) 290.5mm (3) YTD

2025 87.5mm 155.5mm

2024 101.5mm 150.5mm

2023 156.0mm (1) 327.5mm (1)

2022 63.0mm 220.0mm

2021 80.5mm 200.5mm

2020 86.0mm 266.5mm

2019 74.5mm 192.5mm

2018 35.5mm 123.0mm

2017 26.0mm 196.0mm

2016 74.5mm 235.5mm

2015 17.0mm 212.0mm

2014 47.0mm 229.0mm

2013 98.0mm 227.0mm

2012 141.0mm (2) 318.0mm (2)

Hi Ho three in a row. Third best month since 2012 & the third best YTD for the same period. The 100year average for June is 76.0mm, so we’ve done well!!

What’s ahead for the next three months, July, August and September?

The next three months are likely to be drier but still around average or just below. The reason it is a bit flexible is that an El Nino has established itself in the Tropical Pacific. During June the sea and atmospheric temperatures aligned bringing on the El Nino state. Forecasters range the effect, from severe drought in our region to about average rainfall in South Australia. It is estimated to be a very strong El Nino.

Temperatures, both day and night are to be above average but we will get the odd cold fronts and frosts coming through. The sea temperatures around Australia are again going to be above average but our gulfs will be average. Our soil moisture is getting back to normal after a long period of dryness down to 150mm.

I was lifted by a good news story from Greenhill Energy and its Riverbend Energy Hub at Tailem Bend. The Burnside based new energy company has Nicholas Mumford as its CEO. He is very well acquainted with the energy sector having many years under his belt with SANTOS and Shell. The Company has just announced a $425 million integrated waste to hydrogen plant at Tailem Bend.

The new plant will convert 200,000 tonnes of landfill to hydrogen, fertilizer, synthetic fuels and emission free power once it is fully operational. Going down the hydrogen pathway will provide a transition from natural gas and a reduction in the use of oil. The current employees in the fossil fuel industry will be well suited to making the transition to the new hydrogen plant.

In using landfill waste, it will reduce landfill operations significantly and at the same time produce low-cost fertiliser and fuels to farmers. With the ongoing war in Ukraine fertiliser supply chains have been severely tested & this Southern Australian plant will help us become self-sufficient in this commodity.

In 2026, it first year of operation, it will be able to process 60,000 tonnes of landfill waste (1,500 fully semi-trailers). According to the International Energy Agency, methane from landfill is responsible for 30% of the rise in global temperatures post-industrial revolution. This project has the full support of the South Australian Government. It will provide for over 300 jobs in the building phase & have an initial workforce of between 50 and 100 jobs. It is a national first and is one of few such plants in the world. Well done Greenhill Energy!!

On that positive note I bid you farewell for another month. Enjoy the rain – more coming in July.

Paul