Weekly Australian Climate, Water and Agricultural Update, 11 June 2026

Key issues

• In the week ending 10 June 2026, low-pressure systems brought rainfall to parts of southern Australia, as well as isolated eastern regions.
  • Most cropping regions in Western Australia, South Australia and southern New South Wales recorded falls of between 5-50 millimetres. Meanwhile, cropping regions in Victoria and northern New South Wales saw limited falls of 5-10 millimetres.
  • Scattered heavier falls have provided a boost to soil moisture levels across some southern cropping regions and where recorded are likely to benefit the establishment and growth of winter crops.
• Over the 8 days to 18 June 2026, cold fronts and low-pressure systems are expected to bring rainfall to parts of western, southern and eastern Australia.
  • Across cropping regions, falls of 25-100 millimetres are forecast for much of South Australia and Victoria, while southern New South Wales is forecast to receive 25-50 millimetres. In northern New South Wales and southern Queensland falls of between 5 - 25 millimetres are expected. Western Australia is likely to see 10-50 millimetres of rainfall over the period.
  • If realised, these expected falls are likely to provide an additional boost to soil moisture levels across many cropping areas. These falls are also expected to support the germination and growth of early sown winter crops.
• The national rainfall outlook for July to September 2026 indicates an increased probability of below median rainfall across parts of southern, eastern and northern Australia.
  • While the current rainfall outlook for July to September 2026 suggest below average falls across most cropping regions, favourable soil moisture levels across most of Australia’s southern growing regions means that if forecast July through September rainfall totals are realised, these falls are likely be sufficient to support the establishment and growth of winter crops. However, these below average expected falls for north-eastern growing regions represents an ongoing downside production risk for the 2026–27 winter cropping season.
• Water storage levels in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) increased by 167 gigalitres (GL) between 4 June 2026 and 11 June 2026. The current volume of water held in storages is 10,550 GL, equivalent to 47% of total storage capacity. This is 17% or2,112 GL less than 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 increased from $334/ML on 4 June 2026 to $372/ML on 11 June 2026. Trade from the Goulburn to the Murray is open. Trade downstream through the Barmah Choke is closed. Trade from the Murrumbidgee to the Murray is open.