Parts of Victoria record just a third of their average autumn rain

PARTS of Victoria have received just a third of their crucial autumn rain.

Dry as autumn falls short

PARTS of Victoria have received just a third of their crucial autumn rain.

Sunday marks the official end of autumn, with many parts of the state still waiting for good falls to give a much-needed early boost to the winter cropping program.

According to Bureau of Meteorology statistics, Horsham, in the heart of Victoria’s wheatbelt, received just 33mm during the three months of autumn — a third of what it would normally expect.

It was a trend emulated in the northern and western parts of the state, with Wangaratta’s 52mm representing 38 per cent of its 138mm long-term autumn average and Shepparton’s 58mm accounting for 42 per cent of normal.

Most centres have failed to match their averages, with several towns — Nhill (44 per cent), Swan Hill (44 per cent), Stawell (45 per cent), Echuca (47 per cent), Deniliquin in NSW (48 per cent) and Charlton (49 per cent) — struggling to receive half.

At the other end of the spectrum, Mildura, in northwest Victoria, received almost one-and-a-half times its autumn average rain, thanks mostly to heavy April falls.

READ MORE:Central Vic areas wait on break

It didn’t receive any rain during March and has received 7.6mm so far this month, against an average of 25mm.

Other good falls were recorded in southern and eastern parts of Victoria.

Portland’s 227mm equated to 123 per cent of its long-term average, followed by Casterton (119 per cent), Bairnsdale (119 per cent), Hamilton (113 per cent) and Sale (100 per cent).

In the Riverina, while Hay and Deniliquin struggled to receive half their average totals, Balranald bettered its, with almost 80mm against a long-term average of 77.5mm.

BOM duty forecaster Beren Bradshaw said a northwest cloud band moving across central and western parts of Victoria today was expected to bring with it a few millimetres of rain.

Ms Bradshaw said the main activity would be tomorrow, with most of the state, except for parts of the east, likely to receive two to three falls and up to 15mm in alpine areas.

As the front continues into Friday, most falls will be confined to eastern and southern Victoria with 5-6mm likely.

Isolated showers are expected for southern parts of Victoria over the weekend, with another front expected to cross the state on Sunday evening.