Australia records second wettest summer in 111 years

（单词翻译）

    CANBERRA, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Due to one of the strongest La Nina events, 2010-11 has seen Australia's second wettest summer on record, and above average rainfall is expected to continue, a weather meteorologist(气象学者) said on Monday.
    "Nationally we averaged 354.7mm - 70 percent above normal and second only behind the infamous¹ summer of 1973-74 when 419.8mm was recorded," Weather Channel meteorologist Tom Saunders said in a statement released² on Monday.
    All states and territories(地区,领土) recorded above average rainfalls, due to one of the strongest La Nina events on record, Saunders said.
    Victoria has never seen a wetter summer since records began 111 years ago, and it was Western Australia's second wettest.
    South Australia had its third wettest summer, New South Wales its 5th, Queensland its 6th and the Northern Territory it's 8th.
    "Looking ahead into autumn, the La Nina is now past its peak and has been weakening³ since early January.
    "However, until the Pacific Ocean returns to neutral⁴ in winter we can expect above average rain to continue over most of the country," he said.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)