Weekly Australian Climate, Water and Agricultural Update, 29 May 2025

Key issues

• In the week ending 28 May 2025, tropical and polar lows brought rainfall to parts of north-western and south-eastern Australia respectively.
  • Cropping regions in New South Wales received 5-100 millimetres of rainfall, while rainfall was limited in Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and Queensland.
  • Low rainfall over the recent week will continue to delay the germination of dry sown winter crops in areas where upper layer soil moisture is low.
• Over the coming eight days, rainfall is expected across much of western and eastern Australia.
  • In Western Australia and Queensland, between 10-100 millimetres of rainfall is expected over the period, while lower rainfall totals are expected across parts of northern New South Wales (10- 25 millimetres). Little to no rainfall is expected across southern New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
  • The lack of autumn rainfall continues to present a risk to the timely germination and establishment of winter crops – particularly in those areas of western Victoria and South Australia where there is low stored soil moisture.
• Water storage levels in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) increased by 185 gigalitres (GL) between 22 May 2025 and 29 May 2025. The current volume of water held in storages is 12,340 GL, equivalent to 55% of total storage capacity. This is 27% or 4,486 GL less than at the same time last year. Water storage data is sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology.
• Allocation prices in the Victorian Murray below the Barmah Choke decreased from $314 on 22 May to $291 on 29 May. Trade from the Goulburn to the Murray is closed. Trade downstream through the Barmah Choke is closed. Trade from the Murrumbidgee to the Murray is open.