Paul Rosser 
In September we received 27.5mm giving us 340.5mm Year to Date (YTD). It rained on 11 of the 30 days in September.
How did this compare with the past 14 years:
2025 27.5mm 340.5mm YTD
2024 22.5mm 282.0mm
2023 37.5mm 446.0mm
2022 50.5mm 385.0mm
2021 44.0mm 400.5mm
2020 46.5mm 400.5mm
2019 41.0mm 304.5mm
2018 19.0mm 268.0mm
2017 52.0mm 444.5mm
2016 112.5mm 543.0mm
2015 29.0mm 367.5mm
2014 31.0mm 345.0mm
2013 54.0mm 460.0mm
2012 27.0mm 462.0mm
This was our fourth driest September in the last 14 years & the fourth lowest YTD as at the end of the month. Even so, our 50,000litre tank remains within a whisker of being full at the end of the period. As at the 8th of October we have had 22.5mm which is the best start to October since 2012 by far.
The question is, will the promise of a damp spring be accurate?
There are mixed indicators regarding this projection. In the last fortnight of September, the temperature in Antartica rose by 30 degrees causing a weakening of the polar vortex in the Southern Ocean. This event is known as a Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW). It happens irregularly with only two of these events happening in the last 60 years. These events coincided with the 2002 & 2019 devastating bushfires in NSW & Victoria. The event is thought to have caused the dry spell towards the end of the month of September. This can also affect the Indian Ocean & the Pacific Ocean. The result is that weather up until Christmas is now a little uncertain. We’ll just have to wait & see what happens. That’s the BOM forecast in short!!
Kudlila, the Kaurna winter is now finished. We are now entering their spring, Wirltuti. The Southern Cross’s position in the sky notes the change of season. Temperatures begin to warm – we had a 29degree day last week. Winds come come from the north west, Pukarra, as it did on the warmer day a few days ago. It can also be a time of thunder (Piturru) & lightening (Karntu). Plenty of birds eggs to eat & lizards are on the menu. Blue crabs are around & garfish are in the shallows. Snakes are getting restless as they come out of hibernation. The people head back to the coast taking up residence just behind the dunes. Skin curing begins at the Washpool. This season lasts through to the end of December.
Well, that’s all for this month. Catch you again in 30 days.
Regards
Paul
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