We are currently 6 months into an extended dry period with some similarities to 1982/1983. How do current conditions compare?
Read below.
Fig 1: 2024/25 extended dry period in South Australia.
1982–83 Drought Summary
Fig 2: 1982/83 extended dry period over most of Australia.
The 1982/83 dry period was more severe than what we are currently experiencing because it occurred across almost all of Australia. The extended dry period lasted 11 months—from April 1982 to March 1983—locally there was about 2/3 of a typical winter rainfall season (200mm) at Willunga and then a dry spring and summer. This drought was linked to a very strong El Niño event. Current local conditions are not linked to El Niño conditions.
After widespread rainfall in March 1982, conditions rapidly deteriorated. By winter, a severe drought had taken hold across most areas east of a line from Alice Springs to Ceduna in South Australia. Clear skies, low humidity, and frequent severe frosts in June and July compounded the situation. Extremely dry conditions continued through spring across eastern Australia, with many regions recording their lowest rainfall on record between April and December.
By November, topsoil had dried out to the point where it was being blown away in dust storms. The drought culminated in disaster with the Ash Wednesday bushfires in February 1983. On February 8, massive dust storms swept across South Australia and Victoria. Just eight days later, on February 16, the devastating bushfires struck.
Relief finally arrived in March. A major low-pressure system developed over northwestern Australia on March 12. Over the following week, it moved eastward, bringing widespread heavy rain and flooding. It then tracked south through New South Wales and Victoria, reaching Tasmania by March 23. This system delivered record-breaking March rainfall across much of the drought-affected area. Follow-up rains in April and May marked the definitive end of the drought.