Weekly update - 13 December 2018
Key issues
- During the week ending 12 December 2018 rainfall was recorded across parts of northern, western and south-eastern Australia.
- In cropping regions, little or no rainfall was recorded during the week ending 12 December 2018. Falls of between 1 and 15 millimetres were recorded across scattered areas in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and parts of northern Queensland.
- For the week ending 11 December 2018, maximum and minimum temperatures were 2°C to 8°C above average across a broad band extending from tropical northern Australia through to Tasmania.
- During the next eight days, rainfall is expected across all states and territories, with the heaviest falls forecast for eastern and northern Australia.
- Two weather systems are currently coming together to create a significant weather event for eastern Australia, with the Bureau of Meteorology issuing severe weather warnings in several states.
- During the next eight days, rainfall totals in excess of 50 millimetres are forecast for parts of eastern New South Wales, southern Victoria, large areas of eastern and northern Queensland and parts of the far north of the Northern Territory.
- In summer cropping regions, rainfall of between 10 and 50 millimetres is expected across most of northern New South Wales and western areas in Queensland, with heavier falls of between 50 and 100 millimetres expected across the remainder of Queensland and the far north-east on New South Wales.
- Water storage levels in the Murray–Darling Basin (MDB) decreased during the week ending 13 December 2018 by 202 gigalitres (GL) to 11,998 GL and are at 47 per cent of total capacity.
- Allocation prices in the southern Murray-Darling Basin increased in the week ending 3 December 2018 to $381 per ML.
Climate
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Rainfall this week
During the week ending 12 December 2018 rainfall was recorded across parts of northern, western and south-eastern Australia. Rainfall totals of between 10 and 50 millimetres were recorded across scattered areas of eastern New South Wales, northern and eastern Victoria, parts of northern Queensland, parts of western South Australia, parts of northern and central Western Australia, and the north of the Northern Territory.
Higher rainfall totals in excess of 50 millimetres were recorded across northern Queensland and the north of the Northern Territory.
In cropping regions, little or no rainfall was recorded during the week ending 12 December 2018. Falls of between 1 and 15 millimetres were recorded across scattered areas in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and parts of northern Queensland.
Rainfall analysis for the week ending 12 December 2018
©Commonwealth of Australia 2018, Australian Bureau of Meteorology - Issued: 12/12/2018
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 11 December 2018, maximum and minimum temperatures were 2°C to 8°C above average across a broad band extending from tropical northern Australia through to Tasmania. For the remainder of the country maximum and minimum temperatures were generally average for the week ending 11 December 2018.
Maximum temperature anomalies for the week ending 11 December 2018
©Commonwealth of Australia 2018, Australian Bureau of Meteorology - Issued: 12/12/2018
Minimum temperature anomalies for the week ending 11 December 2018
©Commonwealth of Australia 2018, Australian Bureau of Meteorology - Issued: 12/12/2018
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 across all states and territories, with the heaviest falls forecast for eastern and northern Australia.
Two weather systems are currently coming together to create a significant weather event for eastern Australia, with the Bureau of Meteorology issuing severe weather warnings in several states. A low-pressure system has formed across the southeast of the country, which has the potential to bring a month's worth of rain over the next few days. Meanwhile, Tropical Cyclone Owen is intensifying in the Gulf of Carpentaria and is expected to strengthen and cross the Queensland coast on Friday.
An upper level trough is linking these two systems, which is likely to influence the movement of Tropical Cyclone Owen towards the east and possible the south-east of Queensland over the weekend. The trough is also expected to draw moisture in from the Tropics and Cyclone Owen, which is likely to cause heavy rainfall over a large part of eastern Australia.
Rainfall totals of between 10 and 50 millimetres are forecast for much of eastern and southern New South Wales, Victoria, eastern and northern Queensland, the far south-east of South Australia, Tasmania, and the north of the Northern Territory. Heavier falls in excess of 50 millimetres are forecast for parts of eastern New South Wales, southern Victoria, large areas of eastern and northern Queensland and parts of the far north of the Northern Territory.
In summer cropping regions, rainfall of between 10 and 50 millimetres is expected across most of northern New South Wales and western areas in Queensland, with heavier falls of between 50 and 100 millimetres expected across the remainder of Queensland and the far north-east on New South Wales.
This rainfall forecast is produced from computer models. As the model output are not altered weather forecasters, it is important to check local forecasts and warnings issued by the Bureau of Meteorology.
Total forecast rainfall (mm) for the period 13 to 20 December 2018
©Commonwealth of Australia 2018, Australian Bureau of Meteorology - Issued: 13/12/2018
Commodities
Current indicators – 13 December 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 | ||||||||
| Australian Dollar – AUD/USD Exchange Rate | 12-Dec | US$/A$ | 0.72 | 0.73 | -1% | 0.75 | -4% | chart |
| Wheat – US no. 2 hard red winter wheat, fob Gulf | 11-Dec | US$/t | 240 | 235 | 2% | 216 | 11% | chart |
| Coarse Grains – US no. 2 yellow corn, fob Gulf | 12-Dec | US$/t | 170 | 165 | 3% | 150 | 13% | chart |
| Canola – Rapeseed, Europe, fob Hamburg | 11-Dec | US$/t | 419 | 425 | -1% | 419 | 0% | chart |
| Cotton – Cotlook 'A' Index | 05-Dec | USc/lb | 87.2 | 86.2 | 1% | 83.3 | 5% | chart |
| Sugar – Intercontinental Exchange, nearby futures, no.11 contract | 12-Dec | USc/lb | 12.8 | 12.8 | 0% | 14.0 | -9% | chart |
| Wool – Eastern Market Indicator | 06-Dec | Ac/kg clean | 1,849 | 1,860 | <1% | 1,699 | 9% | chart |
| Wool – Western Market Indicator | 07-Dec | Ac/kg clean | 2,009 | 2,009 | 0% | 1,762 | 14% | chart |
Selected domestic crop indicator prices | ||||||||
| Milling Wheat – ASW1, track quote, Port Adelaide, SA | 11-Dec | A$/t | 374 | 373 | <1% | 230 | 63% | chart |
| Feed Wheat – General purpose, Sydney, NSW | 12-Dec | A$/t | 440 | na | na | 258 | 70% | chart |
| Feed Barley – Sydney, NSW | 05-Dec | A$/t | 410 | 410 | 0% | 245 | 67% | chart |
| Canola – Portland, Vic. | 29-Oct | A$/t | 597 | na | na | 536 | 11% | chart |
| Grain Sorghum – Sydney, NSW | 12-Dec | A$/t | 445 | 410 | 9% | 304 | 46% | chart |
Selected domestic livestock indicator prices | ||||||||
| Beef – Eastern Young Cattle Indicator | 29-Nov | Ac/kg cwt | 523 | 528 | <1% | 580 | -10% | chart |
| Mutton – Mutton indicator (18–24 kg fat score 2–3), Vic | 07-Dec | Ac/kg cwt | 424 | 413 | 3% | 487 | -13% | chart |
| Lamb – Eastern States Trade Lamb Indicator | 06-Dec | Ac/kg cwt | 663 | 684 | -3% | 635 | 4% | chart |
| Pig – Eastern Seaboard (60.1–75 kg), average of buyers & sellers | 30-Nov | Ac/kg cwt | 311 | 302 | 3% | 282 | 10% | chart |
| Goat – Eastern States (12.1–16 kg) | 03-Dec | Ac/kg cwt | 548 | 548 | 0% | 490 | 12% | chart |
| Live cattle – Light steers ex Darwin to Indonesia | 08-Dec | Ac/kg lwt | 325 | 325 | 0% | 340 | -4% | chart |
| Live sheep – Live wether (Muchea WA saleyard) to Middle East | 03-Dec | $/head | 108 | na | na | 121 | -11% | chart |
Global Dairy Trade (GDT) weighted average prices a | ||||||||
| Dairy – Whole milk powder | 04-Dec | US$/t | 2,667 | 2,599 | 3% | 2,830 | -6% | chart |
| Dairy – Skim milk powder | 04-Dec | US$/t | 1,970 | 1,965 | <1% | 1,774 | 11% | chart |
| Dairy – Cheddar cheese | 04-Dec | US$/t | 3,184 | 3,252 | -2% | 3,696 | -14% | chart |
| Dairy – Anhydrous milk fat | 04-Dec | US$/t | 4,755 | 4,577 | 4% | 6,836 | -30% | 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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