Bureau stats show just 1mm of rain was recorded at the Amberley weather station in September. It took just two days of October to blow that mark out of the water.
Ipswich business owners have welcomed a wet start to October with 46mm of rain recorded at Amberley this month.
The heavens opened on Monday and more of the wet stuff could fall across the region this week with a medium – that’s 50% in bureau speak – chance of showers on Thursday.
It’s a breath of fresh air for businesses with close ties to Mother Nature, like Watercress Creek Olives & Limes at Pine Mountain.
“We’ve had 42mm of steady rain out here, none of it ran off into the gully and it should keep us going for the next couple of weeks,” owner Bernard Mahon told Ipswich First.
“The ground was just so dry, it was really dusty with little to no grass cover in some areas, but you can already see a bit of green starting to come back.
“We were irrigating (throughout September) but there’s no substitute for actual rain. It’s better for the plants and it’s a damn lot cheaper for us.
“It wasn’t just the olives and limes that were suffering, even the Jacarandas were doing it tough and that’s really unusual for big old trees that are more hardened and used to dry conditions.”
September rain
October rain
November Rain
Ipswich District Mowing Service owner Nick Brault said he was looking ahead to a busy November after a couple of lean months.
“September was definitely quiet but August was even worse,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll have a big November once the ground takes in all the rain and the grass and gardens start to grow again.”
Pterodactyl Helicopters owner Captain Mike Jarvis said he would start to notice a new-look landscape later this month.
“From our perspective up in the air we’re looking at more of a macro view,” he said.
“If you go out into your backyard you’ll notice new shoots on the trees and greener grass because you’re so close to it but it takes a week or two for it to green up from above.”
Prepare your property for summer storm season
- Trim tree branches well clear of your house.
- Clear your yard of loose objects.
- Clean and check your property’s roof, guttering and downpipes.
- Have a portable radio and torch with fresh batteries.
- Prepare a first aid kit and learn basic first aid.
- List your emergency contact numbers.
- Visit Ipswich City Council’s Emergency Management website.
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