Key issues
- During the week ending 3 October 2018 little to no rainfall was recorded across much of mainland Australia, where falls did occur, these were mainly restricted to the east, far south and south west of the country. Rainfall totals of between 10 and 50 millimetres were recorded across isolated regions of south-eastern Queensland, north-eastern New South Wales, western Tasmania and south-western Western Australia.
- For the week ending 2 October 2018, maximum temperatures were generally above average (2°C to 6°C) across most of the country. Maximum temperatures were below average (-2°C to -4°C) in the south of Western Australia. Minimum temperatures were above average (2°C to 6°C) in large parts of central Queensland, north-western South Australia, southern Northern Territory and Western Australia. Minimum temperatures were below average (-2°C to -6°C) in parts of south-eastern and northern Australia.
- Area-average rainfall in September 2018 was the lowest on record for Australia. Rainfall deficiencies were widespread—Victoria recorded its second driest September, Western Australia recorded its third driest and South Australia recorded its fourth driest.
- September 2018 rainfall in cropping regions was generally severely deficient to extremely low in southern New South Wales, and in much of South Australia and Western Australia. Small areas of cropping regions in south-western Western Australia, eastern Eyre Peninsula and the Mallee experienced their driest September on record.
- During the next eight days, rainfall is expected to be restricted mainly to southern Western Australia and along the east coast, from south-east Queensland to eastern Victoria, extending into central New South Wales. The forecast suggests there will be little to no rainfall across the remainder of the country.
- In cropping regions, rainfall of between 10 and 50 millimetres is expected in southern Queensland, northern and central New South Wales, and the east of Western Australia. Lower totals of between 1 and 10 millimetres are forecast in central Queensland, southern New South Wales, and north-western Western Australia.
- Water storage levels in the Murray–Darling Basin (MDB) decreased during the week ending 4 October 2018 by 217 gigalitres (GL) to 11,788 GL and are at 52 per cent of total capacity. This is a 22 percentage points or 4,874 GL less than at the same time last year.
- Allocation prices in the southern Murray-Darling Basin increased in the week ending 4 October 2018 to $349 per ML. This is an increase of $26 from the same time last week.
Climate
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Rainfall this week
During the week ending 3 October 2018 little to no rainfall was recorded across much of mainland Australia, where falls did occur, these were mainly restricted to the east, far south and south west of the country. Rainfall totals of between 10 and 50 millimetres were recorded across isolated regions of south-eastern Queensland, north-eastern New South Wales, western Tasmania and south-western Western Australia. Similar totals were recorded in scattered areas of southern Victoria, western South Australia and upper Northern Territory.
Higher rainfall totals in excess of 50 millimetres were recorded in isolated parts of south-eastern Queensland. The highest recorded weekly total was 133 millimetres at Coldstream, in the Yarra Valley region of Victoria.
In cropping regions, rainfall totals of between 10 and 50 millimetres were recorded in the southern and western parts of Western Australia. For remaining cropping regions, little or no rainfall was recorded.
Rainfall analysis for the week ending 3 October 2018
©Commonwealth of Australia 2018, Australian Bureau of Meteorology - Issued: 3/10/2018
Note: The rainfall analyses and associated maps utilise data contained in the Bureau of Meteorology climate database, the Australian Data Archive for Meteorology (ADAM). The analyses are initially produced automatically from real-time data with limited
quality control. They are intended to provide a general overview of rainfall across Australia as quickly as possible after the observations are received. For further information go to
Weekly Rainfall Update.
Temperature anomalies this week
For the week ending 2 October 2018, maximum temperatures were generally above average (2°C to 6°C) across most of the country. Maximum temperatures were below average (-2°C to -4°C) in the south of Western Australia. Minimum temperatures were above average (2°C to 6°C) in large parts of central Queensland, north-western South Australia, southern Northern Territory and Western Australia. Minimum temperatures were below average (-2°C to -6°C) in parts of south-eastern and northern Australia.
Maximum temperature anomalies for the week ending 2 October 2018
©Commonwealth of Australia 2018, Australian Bureau of Meteorology - Issued: 3/10/2018
Minimum temperature anomalies for the week ending 2 October 2018
©Commonwealth of Australia 2018, Australian Bureau of Meteorology - Issued: 3/10/2018
Note: Spatial temperature analyses are based on historical weekly temperature data provided by the Bureau of Meteorology. These temperature anomaly maps show the departure of the maximum and minimum temperatures from the average over the 1961 to 1990 reference period. For further information go to
Daily maximum temperature for Australia.
Monthly rainfall
Area-average rainfall in September 2018 was the lowest on record for Australia. Rainfall deficiencies were widespread —Victoria recorded its second driest September, Western Australia recorded its third driest, and South Australia recorded its fourth driest. The Murray–Darling Basin experienced its sixth driest September on record, contributing to make the year-to-date rainfall across the basin the second lowest on record.
September 2018 rainfall in cropping regions was generally severely deficient to extremely low in southern New South Wales, and in much of Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. Small areas of cropping regions in south-western Western Australia, eastern Eyre Peninsula and the Mallee experienced their driest September on record. In contrast, average rainfall were recorded in parts of central Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales.
Rainfall percentiles for September 2018
Source: Bureau of Meteorology
Note: Rainfall for September 2018 is compared with rainfall recorded for that period during the historical record (1900 to present). For further information, go to Australian Water Availability Project
Rainfall forecast for the next 8 days
During the next eight days, rainfall is expected to be restricted mainly to southern Western Australia and along the east coast, from south-east Queensland to eastern Victoria, extending into central New South Wales. The forecast suggests there will be little to no rainfall across the remainder of the country.
Rainfall totals of between 10 and 50 millimetres are forecast for parts of south-eastern Queensland, central and coastal New South Wales, eastern and southern Victoria, and south-western Western Australia.
In cropping regions, rainfall of between 10 and 50 millimetres is expected in southern Queensland, northern and central New South Wales, and the east of Western Australia. Lower totals of between 1 and 10 millimetres are forecast in central Queensland, southern New South Wales, and north-western Western Australia.
This rainfall forecast is produced from computer models. As it contains no input from weather forecasters, it is important to check local forecasts and warnings issued by the Bureau of Meteorology.
Total forecast rainfall (mm) for the period 4 October to 11 October 2018
©Commonwealth of Australia 2018, Australian Bureau of Meteorology - Issued: 4/10/2018
Commodities
Current indicators – 4 October 2018
| Indicator | Week ended | Unit | Latest price | Price week prior | Weekly change | Price 12 months prior | Year on year change | Chart |
|---|
Selected world indicator prices |
| Australian Dollar – AUD/USD Exchange Rate | 03-Oct | US$/A$ | 0.72 | 0.73 | -1% | 0.78 | -8% |
chart |
| Wheat – US no. 2 hard red winter wheat, fob Gulf | 02-Oct | US$/t | 240 | 245 | -2% | 219 | 10% |
chart |
| Coarse Grains – US no. 2 yellow corn, fob Gulf | 03-Oct | US$/t | 158 | 154 | 3% | 153 | 3% |
chart |
| Canola – Rapeseed, Europe, fob Hamburga | 02-Oct | US$/t | 425 | 434 | -2% | 428 | <1% |
chart |
| Cotton – Cotlook 'A' Index | 03-Oct | USc/lb | 86.6 | 88.5 | -2% | 78.3 | 11% |
chart |
| Sugar – Intercontinental Exchange, nearby futures, no.11 contract | 03-Oct | USc/lb | 11.4 | 10.5 | 9% | 13.8 | -17% |
chart |
| Wool – Eastern Market Indicator | 27-Sep | Ac/kg clean | 2,013 | 2,067 | -3% | 1,522 | 32% |
chart |
| Wool – Western Market Indicator | 28-Sep | Ac/kg clean | 2,141 | 2,222 | -4% | 1,572 | 36% |
chart |
Selected domestic crop indicator prices |
| Milling Wheat – ASW1, track quote, Port Adelaide, SA | 02-Oct | A$/t | 360 | 365 | -1% | 241 | 49% |
chart |
| Feed Wheat – General purpose, Sydney, NSW | 03-Oct | A$/t | 435 | 430 | 1% | 273 | 59% |
chart |
| Feed Barley – Sydney, NSW | 03-Oct | A$/t | 410 | 410 | 0% | 256 | 60% |
chart |
| Canola – Portland, Vic. | 01-Oct | A$/t | 642 | 598 | 7% | 541 | 19% |
chart |
| Grain Sorghum – Sydney, NSW | 03-Oct | A$/t | 405 | 405 | 0% | 314 | 29% |
chart |
Selected domestic livestock indicator prices |
| Beef – Eastern Young Cattle Indicator | 27-Sep | Ac/kg cwt | 487 | 501 | -3% | 509 | -4% |
chart |
| Mutton – Mutton indicator (18-24 kg fat score 2-3), Vic | 28-Sep | Ac/kg cwt | 405 | 484 | -16% | 370 | 9% |
chart |
| Lamb – Eastern States Trade Lamb Indicator | 27-Sep | Ac/kg cwt | 707 | 773 | -9% | 603 | 17% |
chart |
| Pig – Eastern Seaboard (60.1-75 kg), average of buyers & sellers | 21-Sep | Ac/kg cwt | 265 | 250 | 6% | 277 | -4% |
chart |
| Goat – Eastern States (12.1-16 kg) | 24-Sep | Ac/kg cwt | 548 | 540 | 1% | 457 | 20% |
chart |
| Live cattle – Light steers ex Darwin to Indonesia | 22-Sep | Ac/kg lwt | 300 | 300 | 0% | 330 | -9% |
chart |
| Live sheep – Live wether (Muchea WA saleyard) to Middle East | 10-Sep | $/head | 111 | na | na | 113 | -2% |
chart |
Global Dairy Trade weighted average pricesa |
| Dairy – Whole milk powder | 02-Oct | US$/t | 2,753 | 2,768 | <1% | 3,037 | -9% |
chart |
| Dairy – Skim milk powder | 02-Oct | US$/t | 1,982 | 1,980 | <1% | 1,895 | 5% |
chart |
| Dairy – Cheddar cheese | 02-Oct | US$/t | 3,468 | 3,503 | <1% | 4,109 | -16% |
chart |
| Dairy – Anhydrous milk fat | 02-Oct | US$/t | 5,069 | 5,294 | -4% | 6,504 | -22% |
chart |
a Global Dairy Trade prices are updated twice monthly on the first and third Tuesday of each month.
Selected world indicator prices
Selected domestic crop indicator prices
Selected domestic livestock indicator prices
Global dairy trade weighted average prices
Movements in selected fruit and vegetable prices
Data attribution
Water
Water storages, water markets and water allocations - current week
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