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About water in Australia

Changes in rainfall
& water systems
- State by State
- Murray-Darling Basin
- Macquarie River
- Hawkesbury-Nepean
- Other catchments

Water for cities

Water for farmers

Water for the environment

References

Queensland

Overall, CSIRO climate change scenarios for Queensland predict more frequent heavy rainfall events in some parts of the state (CSIRO 2002). Such events are likely to occur even where average rainfall is expected to decrease slightly. However, in regions where average rainfall is expected to decline significantly, there will be reductions in extreme rainfall. In general, the increased occurrence of extreme daily rainfall events will bring about an increase in flood surges and greater risk of associated landslides in some areas (CSIRO 2002).

The annual average rainfall changes for south-west and parts of south-east of Queensland are expected to decrease under climate change. Such changes will become most pronounced in winter and spring months. In south-east Queensland, the average annual rainfall is predicted to decrease by up to 10% by 2030, and 35% by 2070 (CSIRO 2004). Evidence of decreased rainfall trends has been recorded for central Queensland and northern NSW, where rainfall has reached record lows over the past few years (Bureau of Meteorology 2005). Contrasting this, some eastern coastal areas may become wetter. Areas that are predicted to receive the most amount of extreme rainfall occur in mountainous terrain, Coolangatta and north of Brisbane (CSIRO 2004).

Water for cities: Brisbane, Queensland