Weekly Australian Climate, Water and Agricultural Update, 3 September 2026

Key issues

• In the week ending 2 September 2026, cold fronts brought rainfall to large areas of south-western Australia.
  • Across cropping regions in Western Australia, falls of up to 50 millimetres were recorded. In South Australia and Victoria, light falls of up to 5 millimetres were observed.
  • These falls are expected to continue to support winter crop and pasture growth and provide a timely boost to soil moisture levels in Western Australia.
• Over the 8 days to 10 September 2026, rainfall is expected in parts of southern Australia, while northern areas are forecast to remain dry.
  • Cropping regions in Western Australia and South Australia are forecast to receive 5- 15 millimetres, while Victoria and parts of southern New South Wales are likely to see 5- 25 millimetres. These falls are likely to continues to support positive winter crop yield expectations and above average pasture growth across much of the southeast.
  • In contrast, conditions are expected to remain dry across most cropping regions in northern New South Wales and Queensland.
• Rainfall during August 2026 was generally above average in southern and central regions, but below average across parts of the east and west. Across the south, 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 August 2026 was mixed but broadly above average in central and southern areas, with much of south-eastern and central Australia seeing robust pasture growth.
• Water storage levels in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) increased by 506 gigalitres (GL) between 27 August 2026 and 3 September 2026. The current volume of water held in storages is 14,714 GL, equivalent to 66% of total storage capacity. This is 3% or 454 GL less than the same time last year. Water storage data is sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).
• Allocation rices in the Victorian Murray below the Barmah Choke increased from $325/ML on 27 August 2026 to $336/ML on 3 September 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 closed.