General News
22 January, 2026
Drought conditions persist through 2025
DECEMBER capped off a year of low rainfall as drought conditions continued over the south west through 2025.
In Terang just 36.4mm of rain was recorded to have hit the ground in December, below the long-term average of 49.9.
The highest daily rainfall for the month occurred on December 22 with 12.6mm filling gauges.
The result was well below the result recorded in the previous year, with 64.6mm of rain falling in December 2024.
The result brought the annual tally for 2025 to 627.2mm – below the long-term annual average of 776.1mm over the same period.
The highest monthly rainfall fell in June when 124.6mm of rain hit the ground, in large part due to a severe storm which saw a downpour of 85mm over a three-day period.
June was one of just three months, including October and November, which experienced rainfall above the long-term average – while nine months fell below the long-term average.
The lowest monthly rainfall result over Terang was experienced in February, with rain recorded on only four days during the month to reach 12.4mm total.
Meanwhile in Mortlake, 2025 concluded with 31mm falling during December – 9.3mm below the long-term average of 40.3mm.
December 22 marked the wettest day of the month with 11mm hitting the ground.
The result brought the annual total over Mortlake to 518.4mm for the year, below the long-term average of 581mm.
Throughout the year 10 months experienced rainfall below the long-term average, with only June and November experiencing a period of rainfall above the long-term average.
The highest monthly rainfall result was recorded in June when 133.4mm fell.
The June result, as with Terang, had been heightened due to a three-day period in which 75.8mm of rain hit the ground.
The driest month was experienced in April, when only 11mm of rain was recorded to have hit the ground.
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