Tweed rains on new record

Wal Smith with his trusty rain gauge.

Blainey Woodham TWE050112rain

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WHILE Australia recorded its third wettest year on record in 2011, rainfall in the Tweed barely exceeded the average.

Tweed Heads resident Wal Smith has been recording the rain for years and noted Tweed's yearly total was just 13mm above average.

Our wettest months were August with 256mm and December with 245mm, both above average, but not enough to sway the year total.

Weather Channel meteorologist Tom Saunders said 2011 was the third wettest year since national records began in 1900.

He attributed the wet to back-to-back La Nina events.

"The national soaking was mainly due to one of the strongest La Nina's on record which dominated weather patterns across the country early in the year," Mr Saunders said.

"A second La Nina developed in spring and although weaker, this was associated with above average rain across much of the country during the last few months."

Mr Saunders said the increased rain also caused slightly below average temperatures making Australia one of the only countries to experience cooler than average temperatures in 2011.