EASTERN states grain producers are anxiously monitoring a cut-off low weather system moving down from north-western Western Australia this week likely to deliver good rainfall.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) is predicting significant rainfall all the way from central Queensland through to the northern slopes of Victoria, although dry patches of the nation’s cropping belt, such as the Darling Downs, at this stage look like missing out on the heaviest falls.
Tom Delamotte, duty forecaster with the Victorian BOM said there would be light falls associated with the cut-off low from Tuesday night onwards, but said the bulk of the rain would come when tropical moisture from Queensland fed into the system from Friday.
“At this stage Friday has the potential to be the wettest day of the outlook period,” he said.
According to the BOM’s water and the land eight-day forecast, the majority of inland NSW, including the parched north-western cropping belt, will receive in excess of 25mm.
Heaviest falls are flagged for central Queensland and north central Victoria, with more than 50mm forecast from May 19 to 22.
Mr Delamotte said areas to the south of the Great Divide in Victoria would also likely miss out on significant falls.
“This is not uncommon when rain comes down in a northerly flow, so places like Gippsland are unlikely to see much rain.”
Further to the west, South Australia is expecting markedly lower falls, with the BOM forecast for 5-15mm over much of that State’s agricultural belt, grading slightly higher in eastern regions.