With warmer and drier conditions forecast for parts of southern and eastern Australia, planning ahead and using water efficiently will be important as irrigation demand increases through spring and summer.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s (BOM) long-range forecast indicates below-average rainfall for much of eastern Australia and south-west Western Australia with warmer-than-average temperatures persisting between May to July. There is also an increased chance of unusually high maximum temperatures for much of eastern Australia and parts of south-west Western Australia.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s long-range forecast indicates below-average rainfall across autumn for most of southern Australia, with warmer-than-average temperatures persisting
The Bureau of Meteorology’s long-range forecast there is no clear signal for either wetter or drier conditions across Victoria, meaning there are roughly equal changes of above or below average rainfall.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s latest long-range forecast suggests that between September and November rainfall is very likely to be above average for most of east Australia. There is also an increased chance of usually high rainfall for much of eastern Australia, including parts of Victoria. Daytime temperatures are predicted to be warmer than average for south eastern Australia, while overnight temperatures are very likely to be above average almost nationwide.
Conditions heading into winter show no strong indication of above or below average rainfall in south west and south east Victoria.
Dry conditions are likely to continue throughout autumn in several regions across southern Victoria and demand for water will also remain strong.
A forecast dry winter has come to pass for many irrigation and groundwater and rivers customers, with some farmers already irrigating early in the season.
A dry autumn has seen customers irrigating late into the season, to ensure pasture, crop and seed growth is maintained coming into a winter season that is forecast to be warmer than usual, particularly in the southwest.
Despite the forecast of a dry autumn, a wetter than usual November to January has meant there is plenty of water available in the storages for irrigation customers, alongside lower than average usage by groundwater and rivers customers.
