Drought-stricken districts could receive rain this week, bureau advises

Western Victoria has had the driest four months on record, official rainfall records show, but rain predicted this week could begin to turn the tide. See where rain is expected.

There is some “good news” for farmers, particularly those experiencing the driest past four months on record, according to the Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Dean Narramore.

Widespread rain is forecast to fall at the end of the week with combined totals of 10-25mm tipped for “most areas”.

“For South Australia, Victoria and South West NSW, there is a low pressure system that will be sitting over the Great Australian Bight that then should produce widespread showers over southern South Australia, southern Victoria and much of Tasmania,” Mr Narramore said.

Northern SA districts may miss out, he said.

Falls of 5-10mm were predicted from Tuesday through Thursday across these regions.

The lower south east of SA could get 5-10mm and coastal areas may receive 15-25mm.

Western Victoria was expected to get showery, windy weather into Friday through to Sunday when a second front could deliver 5-15mm.

The two fronts combined could produce 10-25mm for much of South Australia and Victoria.

Areas in the northern Mallee and as far as Bairnsdale in the east may also miss out, Mr Narramore said.

South West NSW was likely to receive less, around 5-10mm, but areas to the east of Wagga Wagga were likely to get 15-25mm.

Farmers will be closely watching the skies as south west Victoria – from the SA border across to Warrnambool – has experienced the driest four months, February to May, on record, Mr Naraamore said.

All of Western Victoria, and Central Victoria districts had also recorded below average rain for the four months.

When asked how reliable the forecast was likely to be for the week area, Mr Narramore said the “good news is all the weather models are saying a similar thing, so that increases the confidence, so most (areas) should see 5-10mm, not everyone, but 5-10mm should be widespread”.

Another service which many farmers look to, the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, YR, is also predicting good falls, including 12mm for Hamilton on Saturday, 4mm on Sunday and a further 11mm on Monday.

It is forecasting 19mm for Mount Gambier, SA, on Saturday; and 7mm for Ballarat that day and 10mm for Horsham in the Wimmera.