As New South Wales continues to battle heavy rainfall and flooding, parts of Victoria are preparing for stage 2 water restrictions, highlighting Australia’s climate extremes, The Guardian reported. The Victorian towns of Euroa and Violet Town will introduce water restrictions next Wednesday amid ongoing dry conditions.
In contrast, NSW is experiencing unrelenting rain due to a stalled high-pressure system in the Tasman Sea, which is drawing moist ocean air inland. A low-pressure system aloft is intensifying this effect, lifting the moisture and producing persistent rain—reminiscent of the devastating March 2021 floods. Forecasts warn of another rain band approaching from the west.
Scientists are investigating how climate change influences these weather patterns. While it’s unclear if such systems will stall more often, atmospheric moisture is expected to rise with global temperatures, likely increasing rainfall intensity during storms. Meanwhile, southern Australia, including parts of South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, and Western Australia, is facing below-average rainfall.
Drought risk is rising due to fewer heavy rain days, and long-term drying trends are already evident in southwest Australia. Experts warn that both intensified rainfall and prolonged droughts are becoming more common, with climate change playing a growing role in shaping Australia’s extreme weather events.
