Spring kicks off with good rain
Spring rain in the West Gippsland area got off to a good start with 144.6 millimetres of rain recorded at Warragul last month.
That was more than 30 millimetres above the 115-year average for the month and the wettest September since 2009.
However, it came on the back of below average winter rainfall of 227.6 millimetres in June, July and August.
The rain in September was described as “excellent” by pasture specialist with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning at Ellinbank Frank Mickin.
But he said the longer-range forecast for drying conditions “doesn’t look all that promising”.
“If the weather gets too hot, too quickly the ground will soon dry”.
He said the rain last month had put back early silage cuts although a handful of farmers did cut some at the start of the month before the rain.
“It will be flat out from now on”.
Mr Mickan said pasture growth was now taking off, although not as fast as in normal years, after being held back by cold weather.
Most of the September rain in Warragul fell over a stretch of 12 days from September 4-15 when 122.8 millimetres was registered, 46 millimetres of which came on September 14 and 15.
Another 16.2 millimetres fell on the final six days of the month.
The year’s total to the end of September, 619.6 millimetres, is more than 15 per cent down in the 115-year January-September average of 733.7 millimetres.
At Mount Baw Baw, where some last snow falls stretched its ski season a few weeks later than normal, there was still some snow lying on the ground late last week.
But the good cover has quickly thawed although some patchy areas suitable for snow play survived until the end of the school holidays.
All snow runs, cross country trails and lifts have now closed.