Weekly update - 18 October 2018
Key issues
- During the week ending 17 October 2018 rainfall was recorded across all states and territories, with the heaviest falls recorded in the centre, east, far south and south west of the country. Rainfall totals of between 10 and 50 millimetres were recorded across large areas of New South Wales and northern and eastern Queensland, central Victoria and south-western Western Australia. Similar totals were recorded across large areas of the Northern Territory and scattered areas in South Australia.
- In cropping regions, rainfall totals were highly variable. Falls of between 10 and 50 millimetres were recorded in southern and northern New South Wales, eastern Victoria, most cropping regions in Queensland, western areas in South Australia and central regions in Western Australia. For remaining cropping regions, little or no rainfall was recorded.
- For the week ending 16 October 2018, maximum temperatures were generally average, with scattered areas above average (2°C to 4°C) across the country. Minimum temperatures were above average (2°C to 6°C) across large areas of western New South Wales and Victoria, eastern South Australia, Queensland and southern Northern Territory.
- During the next eight days, rainfall is excess of 10 millimetres is expected to be restricted to eastern New South Wales, eastern Victoria, south-eastern Queensland, the far south-west and north-west of Western Australia, western Tasmania and the far north of the Northern Territory.
- In cropping regions, rainfall of between 10 and 50 millimetres is expected in northern and central New South Wales and central and southern Queensland during the next eight days. Lower totals of between 1 and 10 millimetres are forecast in southern New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.
- Water storage levels in the Murray–Darling Basin (MDB) decreased during the week ending 18 October 2018 by 153 gigalitres (GL) to 11,432 GL and are at 51 per cent of total capacity. This is 22 percentage points or 4,987 GL less than at the same time last year.
- Allocation prices in the southern Murray-Darling Basin increased in the week ending 18 October 2018 to $359 per ML. This is an increase of $8 from the same time last week.
Climate
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Rainfall this week
During the week ending 17 October 2018 rainfall was recorded across all states and territories, with the heaviest falls recorded in the centre, east, far south and south west of the country. Rainfall totals of between 10 and 50 millimetres were recorded across large areas of New South Wales, central Victoria, large areas of northern and eastern Queensland, and south-western Western Australia. Similar totals were recorded across large areas of the Northern Territory and scattered areas in South Australia.
Higher rainfall totals in excess of 50 millimetres were recorded in isolated parts of eastern and northern Queensland and the central coast and north-east of New South Wales. The highest recorded weekly total was 465 millimetres at Lower Springbrook Alert, in the Gold Coast hinterland of South East Queensland.
In cropping regions, rainfall totals were highly variable. Falls of between 10 and 50 millimetres were recorded in southern and northern New South Wales, eastern Victoria, most cropping regions in Queensland, western areas in South Australia and central regions in Western Australia. For remaining cropping regions, little or no rainfall was recorded.
Rainfall analysis for the week ending 17 October 2018
©Commonwealth of Australia 2018, Australian Bureau of Meteorology - Issued: 17/10/2018
Note: The rainfall analyses and associated maps utilise data contained in the Bureau of Meteorology climate database, the Australian Data Archive for Meteorology (ADAM). The analyses are initially produced automatically from real-time data with limited quality control. They are intended to provide a general overview of rainfall across Australia as quickly as possible after the observations are received. For further information go to Weekly Rainfall Update.
Temperature anomalies this week
For the week ending 16 October 2018, maximum temperatures were generally average, with scattered areas above average (2°C to 4°C) across the country. Maximum temperatures were below average (-2°C to -6°C) in most coastal areas of New South Wales and the south-east of Queensland. Minimum temperatures were above average (2°C to 6°C) in large areas of western New South Wales and Victoria, eastern South Australia, Queensland and southern Northern Territory.
Maximum temperature anomalies for the week ending 16 October 2018
©Commonwealth of Australia 2018, Australian Bureau of Meteorology - Issued: 17/10/2018
Minimum temperature anomalies for the week ending 16 October 2018
©Commonwealth of Australia 2018, Australian Bureau of Meteorology - Issued: 17/10/2018
Note: Spatial temperature analyses are based on historical weekly temperature data provided by the Bureau of Meteorology. These temperature anomaly maps show the departure of the maximum and minimum temperatures from the average over the 1961 to 1990 reference period. For further information go to Daily maximum temperature for Australia.
Rainfall forecast for the next 8 days
During the next eight days, rainfall is expected to be restricted mainly to the south-east, far south-west and far north of Australia. The forecast suggests there will be little to no rainfall across the remainder of the country.
Rainfall totals of between 10 and 50 millimetres are forecast for much of eastern New South Wales, eastern Victoria, much of south-eastern Queensland, the far south-west and north-west of Western Australia, western Tasmania and the far north of the Northern Territory. Heaver falls in excess of 50 millimetres are expected across parts of eastern New South Wales and the far north of the Northern Territory.
In cropping regions, rainfall of between 10 and 50 millimetres is expected in northern and central New South Wales and central and southern Queensland. Lower totals of between 1 and 10 millimetres are forecast in southern New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.
This rainfall forecast is produced from computer models. As it contains no input from weather forecasters, it is important to check local forecasts and warnings issued by the Bureau of Meteorology.
Total forecast rainfall (mm) for the period 18 to 25 October 2018
©Commonwealth of Australia 2018, Australian Bureau of Meteorology - Issued: 18/10/2018
Commodities
Current indicators – 18 October 2018
| Indicator | Week ended | Unit | Latest price | Price week prior | Weekly change | Price 12 months prior | Year on year change | Chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Selected world indicator prices |
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| Australian Dollar – AUD/USD Exchange Rate | 17-Oct | US$/A$ | 0.71 | 0.71 | 0% | 0.78 | -9% |
chart |
| Wheat – US no. 2 hard red winter wheat, fob Gulf | 16-Oct | US$/t | 241 | 240 | <1% |
212 | 14% |
chart |
| Coarse Grains – US no. 2 yellow corn, fob Gulf | 17-Oct | US$/t | 164 | 161 | 2% |
149 | 10% |
chart |
| Canola – Rapeseed, Europe, fob Hamburga | 16-Oct | US$/t | 438 | 435 | <1% |
424 | 3% |
chart |
| Cotton – Cotlook 'A' Index | 17-Oct | USc/lb | 87.2 | 85.8 | 2% |
78.1 | 12% |
chart |
| Sugar – Intercontinental Exchange, nearby futures, no.11 contract | 17-Oct | USc/lb | 13.3 | 12.7 | 5% |
14.2 | -6% |
chart |
| Wool – Eastern Market Indicator | 11-Oct | Ac/kg clean | 2,023 | 1,992 | 2% |
1,566 | 29% |
chart |
| Wool – Western Market Indicator | 12-Oct | Ac/kg clean | 2,132 | 2,132 | 0% | 1,621 | 32% |
chart |
Selected domestic crop indicator prices |
||||||||
| Milling Wheat – ASW1, track quote, Port Adelaide, SA | 09-Oct | A$/t | 417 | 360 | 16% |
- | 73% |
chart |
| Feed Wheat – General purpose, Sydney, NSW | 17-Oct | A$/t | 455 | 455 | 0% | 258 | 76% |
chart |
| Feed Barley – Sydney, NSW | 17-Oct | A$/t | 420 | 420 | 0% | 256 | 64% |
chart |
| Canola – Portland, Vic. | 01-Oct | A$/t | 642 | 598 | 7% |
541 | 19% |
chart |
| Grain Sorghum – Sydney, NSW | 17-Oct | A$/t | 410 | 410 | 0% | 314 | 31% |
chart |
Selected domestic livestock indicator prices |
||||||||
| Beef – Eastern Young Cattle Indicator | 11-Oct | Ac/kg cwt | 498 | 481 | 4% |
538 | -7% |
chart |
| Mutton – Mutton indicator (18-24 kg fat score 2-3), Vic | 12-Oct | Ac/kg cwt | 386 | 352 | 10% |
388 | <1% |
chart |
| Lamb – Eastern States Trade Lamb Indicator | 11-Oct | Ac/kg cwt | 701 | 682 | 3% |
608 | 15% |
chart |
| Pig – Eastern Seaboard (60.1-75 kg), average of buyers & sellers | 05-Oct | Ac/kg cwt | 270 | 268 | <1% |
277 | -3% |
chart |
| Goat – Eastern States (12.1-16 kg) | 15-Oct | Ac/kg cwt | 548 | 548 | 0% | 462 | 19% |
chart |
| Live cattle – Light steers ex Darwin to Indonesia | 13-Oct | Ac/kg lwt | 300 | 300 | 0% | 330 | -9% |
chart |
| Live sheep – Live wether (Muchea WA saleyard) to Middle East | 15-Oct | $/head | 92 | 93 | -1% |
114 | -19% |
chart |
Global Dairy Trade weighted average pricesa |
||||||||
| Dairy – Whole milk powder | 16-Oct | US$/t | 2,729 | 2,753 | <1% |
3,014 | -9% |
chart |
| Dairy – Skim milk powder | 16-Oct | US$/t | 1,977 | 1,982 | <1% |
1,797 | 10% |
chart |
| Dairy – Cheddar cheese | 16-Oct | US$/t | 3,404 | 3,468 | -2% |
4,107 | -17% |
chart |
| Dairy – Anhydrous milk fat | 16-Oct | US$/t | 5,106 | 5,069 | <1% |
6,841 | -25% |
chart |
a Global Dairy Trade prices are updated twice monthly on the first and third Tuesday of each month.
Selected world indicator prices
Selected domestic crop indicator prices
Selected domestic livestock indicator prices
Global dairy trade weighted average prices
Movements in selected fruit and vegetable prices
Data attribution
Water
Water storages, water markets and water allocations - current week
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