Weekly Australian Climate, Water and Agricultural Update, 4 September 2025

Key issues

• In the week ending 3 September 2025, cold fronts brought rainfall to parts of south-eastern Australia.
• Rainfall was highly variable across winter cropping regions in the week ending 3 September 2025.
  • Rainfall totals of between 5-25 millimetres were observed across much of South Australia and Victoria, as well as far south-eastern areas of New South Wales. Meanwhile, some central cropping regions in Queensland, and parts of Western Australia recorded 5- 15 millimetres.
  • Low rainfall totals coupled with warming winter temperatures across much of southern New South Wales are likely to see further declines in soil moisture levels with potential impacts on plant growth rates and yield potentials.
• Over the coming eight days to 11 September 2025, moderate rainfall totals are expected across most cropping regions, with exceptions in Queensland.
  • Falls of between 10-50 millimetres are forecast across Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria, with falls of between 5-25 millimetres expected in South Australia and parts of southern Queensland. Remaining areas are expected to receive little to no rainfall.
• Low rainfall totals during August across southern New South Wales, is likely to have effected growth and development of winter crops and pastures in this regions. Continued timely rainfall is required to support yield potential of crops in regions that have seen recent dry conditions. While areas of below average pasture growth for the three months to August 2025 are still evident across parts of Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, southern New South Wales and southern Queensland, relative pasture growth rates have improved across some southern production regions compared to the 3-month period ending July 2025.
• Water storage levels in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) increased by 278 gigalitres (GL) between 28 August 2025 and 04 September 2025. The current volume of water held in storages is 15,139 GL, equivalent to 68% of total storage capacity. This is -18% or -3,284 GL less than the same time last year. Water storage data is sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).
• Allocation prices in the Victorian Murray below the Barmah Choke increased from $262/ML on 28 August 2025 to $278/ML on 04 September 2025. 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 closed.