A small country town of just 65 people takes the unenviable top spot as the SOGGIEST place in Australia after locals endured just 14 DRY days this year
- The town of Yarras on NSW’s north mid-coast has been described as the wettest in the country
- The small town recorded 121 rainy days year-to-date through May 15
- Due to the persistent rains, local residents had to close shops
- Experts have forecast above-average precipitation for the months of June to August
La Nina continues to wreak havoc in Australia, with rainfall records falling every month and a small town taking the unenviable top spot for the country’s wettest, with locals barely getting two weeks of sunlight since January.
The picturesque town of Yarras on NSW’s north-central coast has been named the country’s wettest town after registering 121 rainy days up to 15 May, meaning its 65 residents saw just 14 total days of sunshine in 2022.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, there must be at least 0.2 mm of rain to represent a rainy day.
Compared to Sydney, Yarras recorded a full month more rainy days, with the NSW capital reporting 90 days of rainy weather.
The tropical capitals of Brisbane and Darwin were close behind, each recording 70 rainy days.
The NSW town of Yarras has had 14 dry days since the start of the year. The Hastings River (pictured), which flows through the city, has been the subject of multiple flood warnings as rain batters the area
Located on the Hastings River and an hour west of Port Macquarie, the small town is dominated by farmland and agriculture.
Yarras residents have faced unprecedented challenges over the past three years as fires, Covid-19 and now unrelenting rain affected their ability to work and live.
Michael Prott, who works as a carpenter, contractor and laborer, told The Guardian he’s only worked eight days in the past two months.
His attempts to start a business on the side and diversify his income didn’t go according to plan.
“We started a kayaking and paddling tour company earlier this year – Moonriver Paddle – and were only able to paddle one paddle all season,” Mr Prott told the publication.
Michael Prott of Yarras (left) closed his newest venture – Moonriver Paddle (right) – due to persistent rain. Mr. Prott started the business hoping to diversify his income
Mr Prott announced his decision to close his shop for the season in a post on Moonriver Paddle’s Facebook page.
“Unfortunately, due to continued rainfall, we have decided to close Moonriver Paddle for the season,” he said.
“Over the past few months we have had to reschedule or cancel bookings and apologize to anyone who has experienced the inconvenience as you would understand that everyone’s safety is a priority and the flow has been just too moody.
“We didn’t have exactly the start we were hoping for, but…we look forward to being on the river with you again soon.”
The Bureau of Meteorology said Australia was on track to break its winter rain records after an already soggy start to the year
Residents of neighboring towns also faced financial strains due to the wet weather that ravaged the state.
Cattle farmer Phillip Morton, who lives on nearby Rollands Plains, was trying to grow winter forage for his stock, but two weeks of continuous rain rotted every seed and resulted in $5,000 worth of damage.
“I hope I don’t sound like a nagging farmer,” Mr Morton told the Guardian.
“It’s better than drought, but I’d like to see a little more dispersion of the rain.”
Weatherzone reported that Sydney reached its average annual rainfall on April 7 — the earliest date on record.
The recent deluge brings Sydney’s annual running total to 1491.2mm of rain for 2022 as of 9am Monday morning, beating the city’s long-term annual average of 1213.4mm of rain.
Experts predicted the country could be drenched in rain and flooding for another six months as a third La Nina system remains in the pipeline, making it Australia’s wettest spell in nearly 50 years.
This would be the first time in 22 years that Australia had three consecutive La Ninas and it would be the fourth triple La Nina since records began in 1900 – the wettest year on record was 1974.
The Bureau of Meteorology said the country is very likely to exceed average June-August rainfall and forecast two to three times the normal rain expected during the rainy season.