Weekly update - 19 March 2020
Key issues
- During the week ending 18 March 2020 rainfall was primarily recorded across parts of the west, far north and south-east of Australia. Rainfall between 10 and 100 millimetres was recorded over scattered areas of the western and south-eastern Australia. Rainfall up to 300 millimetres was recorded across parts of Cape York primarily due to a tropical low located off north-eastern Queensland.
- In Australia’s cropping regions, rainfall totals of between 10 and 25 millimetres were recorded across parts of Western Australia. Little to no rainfall was recorded across cropping regions in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and remaining regions in Western Australia during the week ending 18 March 2020.
- While rainfall this week has been limited, the (1990-2012) median rainfall total for March has already been achieved across large parts of inland northern and eastern Australia. Median rainfall totals for the month have been achieved for most cropping regions in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia. In South Australia, rainfall totals of between 10 and 25 millimetres will need to occur during the remainder of the month for median rainfall totals for March to be achieved across most cropping regions.
- Over the next eight days, rainfall totals of between 10 and 50 millimetres are forecast for parts of south-western, eastern and northern Australia. Falls in excess of 50 millimetres are forecast for isolated parts of the far north and north-east of Queensland and north of the Northern Territory.
- Across cropping regions, rainfall of between 10 and 25 millimetres is expected across much of central and eastern Western Australia and parts of north-eastern New South Wales. Little to no rainfall is expected across remaining cropping regions in Australia during the next 8 days.
- Water storage levels in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) increased between 11 March 2020 and 18 March 2020 by 28 gigalitres (GL). Current volume of water held in storage is 8,075 GL which represents 32 per cent of total capacity.
- The Goulburn IVT and Barmah choke trade limit are currently binding, which has opened price gaps between catchments above and below the Barmah choke. Allocation prices in the Victorian Murray below the Barmah choke increased from $470 per ML on 12 March 2020 to $515 per ML on 19 March 2020.
Climate
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Rainfall this week
During the week ending 18 March 2020 rainfall was primarily recorded across parts of the south-west, far north and south-east of Australia. Rainfall between 10 and 100 millimetres was recorded across scattered areas of western and south-eastern Australia. Rainfall up to 300 millimetres was recorded across parts of Cape York primarily due to a tropical low located off north-eastern Queensland.
In Australia’s cropping regions, rainfall totals of between 10 and 25 millimetres were recorded across parts of Western Australia. Little to no rainfall was recorded across cropping regions in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and remaining regions in Western Australia during the week ending 18 March 2020.
Rainfall for the week ending 18 March 2020
©Commonwealth of Australia 2020, Australian Bureau of Meteorology - Issued: 18/03/2020
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.
While rainfall this week has been limited, the (1990-2012) median rainfall total for March has already been achieved across large parts of inland northern and eastern Australia.
Median rainfall totals for the month have been achieved for most cropping regions in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia. Month to-date rainfall totals of between 10 and 25 millimetres have been recorded across parts of Western Australia and eastern South Australia. Cropping region in Queensland and western Victoria have recorded rainfall totals between 10 and 50 millimetres. Month to-date rainfall totals greater than 50 millimetres have been recorded across most cropping regions in New South Wales and eastern Victoria.
In South Australia, rainfall totals between 10 and 25 millimetres will need to occur during the remainder of the month for median rainfall totals for March to be achieved across most cropping regions.
Rainfall for the period 1 March to 18 March 2020
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 17 March 2020, maximum and minimum temperatures were 2°C to 8°C above average across parts of western and central Australia. In contrast, maximum and minimum temperatures were 2°C to 4°C below average across parts of south-eastern Australia. Average (- 2°C to 2°C) minimum temperatures were recorded across the remainder of the country.
Maximum temperature anomalies for the week ending 17 March 2020
©Commonwealth of Australia 2020, Australian Bureau of Meteorology - Issued: 18/03/2020
Minimum temperature anomalies for the week ending 17 March 2020
©Commonwealth of Australia 2020, Australian Bureau of Meteorology - Issued: 18/03/2020
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
Over the next eight days, rainfall totals of between 10 and 50 millimetres are forecast for parts of south-western, eastern and northern Australia. Falls in excess of 50 millimetres are forecast for isolated parts of the far north and north-east of Queensland and north of the Northern Territory. High pressure systems are expected to persist over the east and south of Australia during the next eight days, restricting the flow of moist air over Australia.
In cropping regions, rainfall of between 10 and 25 millimetres is expected across much of central and eastern Western Australia and parts of north-eastern New South Wales. Falls of between 5 and 10 millimetres are expected across much of northern and eastern New South Wales, and parts of south-eastern Queensland and the west of Western Australia. Little to no rainfall is expected across remaining cropping regions in Australia during the next 8 days.
Total forecast rainfall (mm) for the period 19 March to 26 March 2020
©Commonwealth of Australia 2020, Australian Bureau of Meteorology - Issued: 19/03/2020
Note: This rainfall forecast is produced from computer models. As the model outputs are not altered by weather forecasters, it is important to check local forecasts and warnings issued by the Bureau of Meteorology.
Commodities
Current indicators – 19 March 2020
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 | 18-Mar | US$/A$ | 0.62 | 0.66 | -6%![]() |
0.71 | -13%![]() |
chart |
Wheat – US no. 2 hard red winter wheat, fob Gulf | 17-Mar | US$/t | 214 | 219 | -2%![]() |
221 | -3%![]() |
chart |
Coarse Grains – US no. 2 yellow corn, fob Gulf | 18-Mar | US$/t | 160 | 170 | -6%![]() |
168 | -5%![]() |
chart |
Canola – Rapeseed, Canada, fob Vancouver | 18-Mar | US$/t | 350 | 364 | -4%![]() |
374 | -6%![]() |
chart |
Cotton – Cotlook 'A' Index | 19-Mar | USc/lb | 69.3 | 71.8 | -3%![]() |
84.1 | -18%![]() |
chart |
Sugar – Intercontinental Exchange, nearby futures, no.11 contract | 19-Mar | USc/lb | 11.2 | 13.3 | -16%![]() |
12.5 | -10%![]() |
chart |
Wool – Eastern Market Indicator | 12-Mar | Ac/kg clean | 1,521 | 1,562 | -3%![]() |
1,979 | -23%![]() |
chart |
Wool – Western Market Indicator | 12-Mar | Ac/kg clean | 1,616 | 1,662 | -3%![]() |
2,157 | -25%![]() |
chart |
Selected domestic crop indicator prices |
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Milling Wheat – ASW1, track quote, Port Adelaide, SA | 03-Mar | A$/t | 351 | 358 | -2%![]() |
289 | 21%![]() |
chart |
Feed Wheat – General purpose, Sydney, NSW | 03-Mar | A$/t | 428 | 436 | -2%![]() |
418 | 2%![]() |
chart |
Feed Barley – Sydney, NSW | 03-Mar | A$/t | 356 | 366 | -3%![]() |
398 | -11%![]() |
chart |
Grain Sorghum – Sydney, NSW | 03-Mar | A$/t | 396 | 426 | -7%![]() |
432 | -8%![]() |
chart |
Selected domestic livestock indicator prices |
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Beef – Eastern Young Cattle Indicator | 12-Mar | Ac/kg cwt | 766 | 744 | 3%![]() |
393 | 95%![]() |
chart |
Mutton – Mutton indicator (18–24 kg fat score 2–3), Vic | 12-Mar | Ac/kg cwt | 761 | 708 | 7%![]() |
388 | 96%![]() |
chart |
Lamb – Eastern States Trade Lamb Indicator | 12-Mar | Ac/kg cwt | 960 | 962 | <1%![]() |
640 | 50%![]() |
chart |
Pig – Eastern Seaboard (60.1–75 kg), average of buyers & sellers | 06-Mar | Ac/kg cwt | 411 | 414 | <1%![]() |
331 | 24%![]() |
chart |
Goat – Eastern States (12.1–16 kg) | 16-Mar | Ac/kg cwt | 917 | 903 | 2%![]() |
616 | 49%![]() |
chart |
Live cattle – Light steers ex Darwin to Indonesia | 14-Mar | Ac/kg lwt | 385 | 380 | 1%![]() |
300 | 28%![]() |
chart |
Live sheep – Live wether (Muchea WA saleyard) to Middle East | 09-Dec | $/head | 105 | 140 | -25%![]() |
108 | -3%![]() |
chart |
Global Dairy Trade (GDT) weighted average prices a |
||||||||
Dairy – Whole milk powder | 17-Mar | US$/t | 2,797 | 2,952 | -5%![]() |
3,317 | -16%![]() |
chart |
Dairy – Skim milk powder | 17-Mar | US$/t | 2,527 | 2,747 | -8%![]() |
2,405 | 5%![]() |
chart |
Dairy – Cheddar cheese | 17-Mar | US$/t | 4,398 | 4,285 | 3%![]() |
4,036 | 9%![]() |
chart |
Dairy – Anhydrous milk fat | 17-Mar | US$/t | 4,331 | 4,302 | <1%![]() |
5,662 | -24%![]() |
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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