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Australia’s driest September exacerbates worst drought in decades

A car drives near the Yass River, one of the worst-hit region by drought in Australia, Aug. 11, 2018.
(Xinhua/Pan Xiangyue) CANBERRA, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) — Australia has experienced its driest September on record, extending the nation’s drought.
"Below average rainfall covered almost the entire country," Trewin told Fairfax Media on Monday night.
The poor September means that Australia is on-track to record its third-driest calendar year on record behind 1902 and 1965.
It came as much of the nation was desperate for rain to break the worst drought in five decades.
In New South Wales (NSW), September brought less than half the normal rainfall.
Trewin said that the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia’s food bowl, was on track to have its driest calendar year since 1902.
"The signal in the outlook (from October to December) that’s really strong is warmth," Trewin said.
Trewin said that 2018 was likely to be among top 10 years for average temperature.
Bushfire season has begun early across much of Australia as a result of a warm, dry winter.

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