This is the time of year when our eyes scan the horizon seeking the first sign of buds bursting out in colour on jacarandas trees. The heavy scent of jasmine and freesia fills the air, joy to some and an allergy to others.
Throughout the month a persistent high pressure system centred in the southern Coral Sea showed a marked reluctance to either weaken or drift eastwards blocking the likelihood of any substantial precipitation reaching 
us in frontal systems approaching from the south. The result was we have had the lowest monthly rainfall for six years measuring only 39.4 mm, representing 24 mm below the 116 year average. The season’s first thunderstorm was an isolated cell on Monday 7th this brought 29 mm of rain to help fill near empty tanks on some properties. Total rainfall for the first nine months of this year is on track with the all time average.
The major phenomena of the month was the widespread dust that twice covered the east coast of Australia from Sydney northwards, arriving on the Blackall Ranges on Wednesday 23rd and Sunday 27th.
It all started on Monday 21st when an intensive low of 960hPa developed in The Bight. A cold surface trough associated with this system moved across Victoria and into NSW and SE Queensland. Overhead instability of the atmosphere was intensified by troughs in a NW cloudband. On Wednesday we had hot gale force winds whipping up red top soil from out west, including silt possibly from Lake Eyre, and then depositing some 75,000 tonnes an hour of dust along the east coast. Sydney airport closed early in the day and planes diverted to Brisbane. On the Blackall ranges the day started with a slight haze. At 1.15 pm winds backed to SSW and widespread dust moved in dramatically dropping visibility to 300m. The wide spread dust cleared the region by the following afternoon and made Thursday a day of mopping-up grit that had penetrated everywhere. Vehicles needed cleaning, also air conditioner filters. Washing machines were kept busy.
Weather report is supplied by Patrick Stacey, Maleny Weather Station. Log on to www.malenyweather.com for daily data and weather news
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