Neither had I, until I visited Darwin in August 2000. A local librarian explained that it would be fine for the next few weeks. I'm from Tasmania, you see, where the weather varies almost daily. As I was saying, Australia has a wide range of climates, which means it yields a rich harvest of possibility in the way of weather-related disasters. Here are some weatherish ways to torture your characters.
Droughts can happen just about anywhere in Australia, but their severity is relative.
A Tasmanian drought will usually occur in the south east or midlands of the island state. There will be less rain than usual and emergency stocks of hay may need to be brought in from more fortunate parts of the state to feed sheep and cattle. Farms are affected, and water restrictions may be discussed. Tasmanians may be requested to use hand-held hoses for garden watering, but there will be no question of households running out of water. Drought on the mainland can be much more dramatic because it happens on a much larger scale.