Weekly Australian Climate, Water and Agricultural Update, 6 August 2026

Key issues

• In the week ending 5 August 2026, much of Australia was largely dry, particularly across northern and central regions.
  • Across cropping regions falls of between 1-10 millimetres were recorded in Western Australia, and parts of southern Victoria and eastern South Australia.
  • Cropping regions across New South Wales and Queensland, and the remainder of South Australia and Victoria were largely dry.
• Over the 8 days to 13 August 2026, widespread rainfall is expected across large areas of southern Australia, while much of northern Australia is expected to remain largely dry.
• Across cropping regions, the 8-day forecasts indicates that falls are expected to widespread, except for the northeast.
  • In southern New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and parts of Western Australia falls of 25-50 millimetres are forecast. Some parts of southern New South Wales and eastern Victoria are expected to see up to 100 millimetres. Meanwhile cropping region in northern New South Wales and the remainder of Western Australia are likely to recorded 5-25 millimetres. If realised, these falls are likely to benefit crop and pasture growth, and boost soil moisture levels particularly in Western Australia following a relatively dry July.
  • In contrast, conditions are expected to remain dry across cropping regions in Queensland.
• Rainfall during July 2026 was generally above average in central regions, but below average across parts of the east and west. Across the southeast, generally average falls have continued to support soil moisture levels, above average pasture growth and winter cropping outcomes.
• Pasture growth for the three months to July 2026 was mixed but broadly above average in central and southern areas, with much of south-eastern and central Australia seeing robust pasture growth, and below average growth was evident across areas of north-eastern and north-western Australia. Soil moisture models indicate broadly average to above average moisture in much of Australia.
• Water storage levels in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) increased by 108 gigalitres (GL) between 30 July 2026 and 6 August 2026. The current volume of water held in storages is 13,071 GL, equivalent to 59% of total storage capacity. This is 10% or 1,437 GL less than the same time last year. Water storage data is sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology.
• Allocation rices in the Victorian Murray below the Barmah Choke increased from $403/ML on 30 July 2026 to $409/ML on 6 August 2026. 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.