There’s good news for our farmers, with the Bureau of Meterology predicting a wet start to summer for most of NSW.
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The BOM's first weather outlook for December to February indicates a wetter than average season for much of south-eastern and central NSW, particularly next month.
The bureau is predicting a 65 per cent chance of above average rainfall next month, caused by numerous factors in the Indian and Pacific oceans, according to senior hydrologist Dr Robert Pipunic.
"In December, high pressures in the southern Tasman Sea are likely to drive more humid air inland than normal, resulting in a welcome wetter-than-average December outlook for central and eastern NSW and eastern Victoria,” he said.
While December will be wet, it’s also expected to be warmer than average, which means firefighters will be on high alert.
"This warmth, combined with a predominantly dry landscape, means bushfire risk remains high in many parts of Australia," Dr Pipunic said.
The BOM expects some areas across NSW will get at least 50 millimetres of rainfall, while some may be up to 400 millimetres. But it won’t be enough to break the drought.
According to the Department of Primary Industries’ latest estimates of drought intensity, up to 30 per cent of the state is drought affected, 50 per cent is in drought and 19 per cent is in intense drought.
Despite recent rainfall in the Shoalhaven area, Level 1 water restrictions remain in place.
Some increase in flows in the Kangaroo River have allowed Shoalhaven Water to top up Bamarang dam, while conserving the back-up supply from Danjera dam.
Madeline Crittenden
Madeline Crittenden is a journalist for Fairfax Media at the South Coast Register.
Madeline Crittenden is a journalist for Fairfax Media at the South Coast Register.
