Weekly update - 21 March 2019
Key issues
- During the week ending 20 March 2019 rainfall was recorded across northern, eastern and western Australia.
- In cropping regions, rainfall of between 25 and 100 millimetres was recorded across northern and south-eastern growing regions in Queensland and some northern growing regions of New South Wales during the week ending 20 March 2019. Lighter falls of between 1 and 25 millimetres were recorded across the remaining cropping regions in northern New South Wales and Queensland, as well as much of Western Australia.
- For the week ending 19 March 2019, maximum and minimum temperatures were generally above average across much of the country.
- During the next eight days, rainfall is expected across all states and territories, with the heaviest falls likely to be restricted to northern, central and eastern Australia.
- In cropping regions, rainfall of between 10 and 25 millimetres is expected across much of Queensland, and parts of the northern and eastern regions of New South Wales. Lower rainfall totals of are expected across remaining cropping regions of Queensland and New South Wales.
- Water storage levels in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) decreased between 13 March and 20 March 2019 by 192 gigalitres (GL). Current volume of water held in storage is 8,884 GL which represents 35 per cent of total capacity. This is 36 percentage points or 4,899 GL less than at the same time last year.
- Allocation prices in the southern Murray-Darling Basin decreased from $473 per ML in the week ending 4 March 2019 to $455 per ML in the week ending 11 March 2019.
Climate
[expand all]
Rainfall this week
During the week ending 20 March 2019 rainfall was recorded across northern, eastern and western Australia. Rainfall totals of between 10 and 50 millimetres were recorded across eastern New South Wales, northern and eastern Queensland, northern and inland Western Australia, and the north of the Northern Territory. Higher rainfall totals in excess of 50 millimetres were recorded across south-eastern and north-eastern New South Wales, south-eastern and northern Queensland, parts of northern Western Australia and an isolated area of the north of the Northern Territory.
In cropping regions, rainfall of between 25 and 100 millimetres was recorded across northern and south-eastern growing regions in Queensland and some northern growing regions of New South Wales during the week ending 20 March 2019. Lighter falls of between 1 and 25 millimetres were recorded across the remaining cropping regions in northern New South Wales and Queensland, as well as much of Western Australia.
Rainfall analysis for the week ending 20 March 2019
©Commonwealth of Australia 2019, Australian Bureau of Meteorology - Issued: 20/03/2019
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 19 March 2019, maximum and minimum temperatures were generally above average across much of the country. Areas of 2°C to 8°C above average maximum temperatures were recorded across large areas of south-western, central and eastern Australia. Minimum temperatures were 2°C to 6°C above average across Western Australia, and parts of central and eastern Australia. Minimum temperatures were -2°C to -4°C below average in isolated parts of southern South Australia, western Victoria and eastern Tasmania. Average (- 2°C to 2°C) minimum and maximum temperatures were recorded across the remainder of the country.
Maximum temperature anomalies for the week ending 19 March 2019
©Commonwealth of Australia 2019, Australian Bureau of Meteorology - Issued: 20/03/2019
Minimum temperature anomalies for the week ending 19 March 2019
©Commonwealth of Australia 2019, Australian Bureau of Meteorology - Issued: 20/03/2019
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 likely to be restricted to northern, central and eastern Australia.
Rainfall totals of between 10 and 50 millimetres are forecast for northern and eastern New South Wales, parts of north-eastern Victoria, much of Queensland, parts of northern Western Australia, north-eastern South Australia, western Tasmania and much of the east and north of the Northern Territory. Heavier falls in excess of 50 millimetres are forecast for the Cape York Peninsula and south-western Queensland, the north and east of the Northern Territory and part of the north-west of Western Australia.
In cropping regions, rainfall of between 10 and 25 millimetres is expected across much of Queensland, and parts of the northern and eastern regions of New South Wales. Lower rainfall totals of between 5 and 10 millimetres are expected across remaining cropping regions of Queensland and New South Wales and southern Western Australia.
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.
Total forecast rainfall (mm) for the period 21 to 28 March 2019
©Commonwealth of Australia 2019, Australian Bureau of Meteorology - Issued: 21/03/2019
Commodities
Current indicators – 21 March 2019
| 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 | 20-Mar | US$/A$ | 0.71 | 0.7 | -1% | 0.78 | -9% | chart |
| Wheat – US no. 2 hard red winter wheat, fob Gulf | 19-Mar | US$/t | 221 | 220 | <1% | 244 | -9% | chart |
| Coarse Grains – US no. 2 yellow corn, fob Gulf | 20-Mar | US$/t | 168 | 164 | 2% | 174 | -3% | chart |
| Canola – Rapeseed, Europe, fob Hamburg | 19-Mar | US$/t | 406 | 404 | <1% | 425 | -4% | chart |
| Cotton – Cotlook 'A' Index | 20-Mar | USc/lb | 84.1 | 82.0 | 3% | 92.2 | -9% | chart |
| Sugar – Intercontinental Exchange, nearby futures, no.11 contract | 20-Mar | USc/lb | 12.5 | 12.2 | 2% | 12.7 | -2% | chart |
| Wool – Eastern Market Indicator | 14-Mar | Ac/kg clean | 1,979 | 2,008 | -1% | 1,751 | 13% | chart |
| Wool – Western Market Indicator | 15-Mar | Ac/kg clean | 2,127 | 2,157 | -1% | 1,834 | 16% | chart |
Selected domestic crop indicator prices | ||||||||
| Milling Wheat – ASW1, track quote, Port Adelaide, SA | 19-Mar | A$/t | 280 | 285 | -2% | 240 | 17% | chart |
| Feed Wheat – General purpose, Sydney, NSW | 20-Mar | A$/t | 405 | 435 | -7% | 278 | 46% | chart |
| Feed Barley – Sydney, NSW | 20-Mar | A$/t | 360 | 370 | -3% | 279 | 29% | chart |
| Canola – Portland, Vic. | 29-Oct | A$/t | 597 | na | na | 536 | 11% | chart |
| Grain Sorghum – Sydney, NSW | 20-Mar | A$/t | 380 | 370 | 3% | 410 | -7% | chart |
Selected domestic livestock indicator prices | ||||||||
| Beef – Eastern Young Cattle Indicator | 14-Mar | Ac/kg cwt | 393 | 401 | -2% | 562 | -30% | chart |
| Mutton – Mutton indicator (18–24 kg fat score 2–3), Vic | 15-Mar | Ac/kg cwt | 388 | 397 | -2% | 421 | -8% | chart |
| Lamb – Eastern States Trade Lamb Indicator | 14-Mar | Ac/kg cwt | 640 | 639 | <1% | 607 | 5% | chart |
| Pig – Eastern Seaboard (60.1–75 kg), average of buyers & sellers | 08-Mar | Ac/kg cwt | 331 | 329 | <1% | 275 | 20% | chart |
| Goat – Eastern States (12.1–16 kg) | 18-Mar | Ac/kg cwt | 616 | 616 | 0% | 468 | 32% | chart |
| Live cattle – Light steers ex Darwin to Indonesia | 16-Mar | Ac/kg lwt | 300 | 340 | -12% | 320 | -6% | chart |
| Live sheep – Live wether (Muchea WA saleyard) to Middle East | 04-Mar | $/head | 105 | 105 | 0% | 124 | -15% | chart |
Global Dairy Trade (GDT) weighted average prices a | ||||||||
| Dairy – Whole milk powder | 20-Mar | US$/t | 3,317 | 3,186 | 4% | 3,226 | 3% | chart |
| Dairy – Skim milk powder | 20-Mar | US$/t | 2,405 | 2,462 | -2% | 1,887 | 27% | chart |
| Dairy – Cheddar cheese | 20-Mar | US$/t | 4,036 | 3,888 | 4% | 3,609 | 12% | chart |
| Dairy – Anhydrous milk fat | 20-Mar | US$/t | 5,662 | 5,837 | -3% | 6,249 | -9% | 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
The Tableau dashboard may not meet accessibility requirements. For information about the contents of these dashboards contact
ABARES.
