Strong start to the season for parts of southeast Australia
Southern NSW has recorded the highest rainfall in the past week, giving a drink to emerging winter crops. See where the most rain was received.
MORE than 50mm of rain has fallen across parts of southeast Australia in the past week, adding to an already wet soil-moisture profile and providing a boost to winter crops.
The Bureau of Meteorology said the best falls were in southern NSW with Khancoban in the Upper Murray recording 61mm in the seven days to 9am Monday followed by Tumbarumba (57mm), Grenfell (53mm), Tumut (48mm), Temora (41mm) and Albury (38mm). Barmedman picked up 32mm for the week while The Rock and Wagga Wagga each measured 30mm.
Totals were more varied In Victoria, with the North East and parts of the Western District recording the best falls. In the North East, Biggara in the Upper Murray picked up 59mm, with Strathbogie North measuring 33mm, Violet Town 31mm and Barnawartha 29mm.
The best of the west was at Merino (34mm), Casterton (28mm), Ararat (22mm) and Portland (18mm). In central Victoria, 33mm fell at Trentham, 24mm at Daylesford and 21mm at Woodend.
Victorian Farmers Federation president David Jochinke said the season was tracking well across the state.
“The season started strong with plenty of early crops now advanced enough to be sprayed and top dressed,” Mr Jochinke said. “The BOM is still threatening a wetter-than-average winter, giving confidence for produce however markets are still concerning.”
NSW continues to lead the nation with rainfall this year with many centres recording more rain so far in 2020 than for 2018 and 2019 combined.
The wettest centres for the year to date include the northern NSW dairy community of Dorrigo. West of the Great Dividing Range, Coonabarabran has recorded 661mm, Orange 603mm, Armidale 558mm and Dunedoo 549mm.
The wettest centres in Victoria include Lake Eildon, which has recorded 505mm of rain for the year so far, the Latrobe Valley (435mm), Castlemaine (402mm), Redesdale (391mm), and Benalla (390mm).
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