Drought
Rainfall deficiencies and water availability

Rainfall deficiencies continue in western Tasmania, improve in South Australia and Victoria

June rainfall was below average for New South Wales; much of central to eastern South Australia; much of the east coast of Queensland and inland areas across the base of the Peninsula; and along the west coast of the South West Land Division in Western Australia.

For New South Wales as a whole area-average rainfall was the lowest for June since 1986 and 8th-lowest on record compared to all other Junes since 1900. This drier than average June marks a departure from recent conditions in New South Wales, following 7 consecutive months of above average rainfall.

Rainfall averaged over the 7 months from December 2021 has been below average for areas of the west-facing coasts of south-eastern Australia. As a result, serious or severe rainfall deficiencies are affecting western Tasmania. While accumulated rainfall totals have risen out or serious or severe deficiency for parts of coastal South Australia and coastal Victoria, evaporative stress remains high for the four-week window ending 4 July 2022 across coastal south-east South Australia and parts of south-west Victoria. See journal publication for further details on calculation and use of evaporative stress index in drought monitoring.

Rainfall for June was above average for most of Cape York Peninsula in Queensland and the west of the channel country; much of the Northern Territory; the Kimberley and north-eastern Interior in Western Australia. Rainfall for June was also above average for parts of southern Victoria, and parts of southern and western Tasmania.

The Climate Outlook released on 30 June 2022 indicates rainfall for July to September is likely to be above median for northern, central and eastern Australia, but below median for western Tasmania and scattered parts of the west of Western Australia.

Multi-year rainfall deficiencies, which originated during the 2017–2019 drought, continue to affect parts of the country. However, for recent seasons, conditions have improved over large areas, and water storages have increased across much of the country.

7-month rainfall deficiencies

June rainfall was below average for most of New South Wales; central to eastern South Australia excluding most of the agricultural districts; the far north-west and eastern tip of Victoria; much of the east coast of Queensland and inland areas across the base of the Peninsula; and along the west coast of the South West Land Division in Western Australia.

Serious and severe rainfall deficiencies for the period December 2021 to June 2022, compared to all years since national records began in 1900, are in place across western to central Tasmania, and in the Northern Territory across the base of the Top End and in pockets of the central Top End. Since the previous Drought Statement, a small area of serious rainfall decificiences has emerged in the south-west of Western Australia between Perth and Pemberton for the 7 month period.

Compared to the 6-month period ending May 2022 the strength of deficiencies in Tasmania has decreased. Areas of the coast of far south-east South Australia, the south-west coast of Victoria and an area to the east of Melbourne have now received rainfall for the period since December 2021 which is above the lowest 10% of historical observations, hence serious or severe rainfall deficiencies are no longer seen in these areas.

In the Northern Territory deficiencies for the period since December 2021 remain similar to the previous Drought Statement. May to September is the northern Australian dry season. This means tropical northern Australia typically has very low rainfall totals during this time (large areas typically see less than 25 mm for the dry season). It is likely there will not be significant change to deficiencies in the Northern Territory until the next wet season, even if there are unseasonal rains in the dry season period.

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Soil moisture

Root-zone soil moisture (soil moisture in the top 100 cm) for June 2022 was below average for the east of the Top End and across the base of the Top End in the Northern Territory, and for much of the South West Land Division and parts of the inland southern districts in Western Australia.

Soil moisture was above average for much of the remainder of the country. June soil moisture was close to average along the New South Wales coast and across much of Victoria, however storages in much of this area were already close to full.

Compared to last month, soil moisture has generally increased across the northern two thirds of Western Australia and in Central Australia, and has also increased in western to central Tasmania. While remaining above average for much of eastern Australia, soil moisture has generally decreased in South Australia and the eastern mainland states.

In recent months, saturated soil conditions across eastern Australia have been a significant contributor to the severity of flooding and have also contributed to increased inflows into inland water storages.

• June rainfall was below average for New South Wales; much of central to eastern South Australia; much of the east coast of Queensland and inland areas across the base of the Peninsula; and along the west coast of the South West Land Division in Western Australia
• Rainfall was above average for much of northern tropics, parts of southern Victoria, and southern and western Tasmania
• Serious rainfall deficiencies (totals in the lowest 10% of historical observations since 1900) continue to affect parts of Tasmania for the period starting December 2021, but deficiencies have improved elsewhere in south-eastern Australia
• Serious rainfall deficiencies are also observed in the Northern Territory across the base of the Top End and in parts of the central Top End
• High streamflows were observed in New South Wales, South Australia, and tropical Queensland
• Minor flood events continued in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia during June
• At the end of June, Australia's total storage volume was 70% of full capacity
• Urban storages in all capital cities are above 80% of capacity except for Adelaide and Perth
• Many storages in the Murray–Darling Basin are at full capacity
• Storages in northern Australia increased during the monsoon season and remain above 70% capacity
• Low storage conditions continue in some parts of central Queensland and the Wimmera–Mallee region of the Murray–Darling Basin

High streamflows in eastern Australia

In June, streamflow conditions in south-eastern Australia were in contrast to rainfall. Despite low rainfall over most of New South Wales, southern Queensland and South Australia, the streamflow conditions in these regions were above to very much above average. This is mainly due to the slow-moving upstream flood waters travelling downstream. Record high flows were observed in many sites in the southern Murray–Darling Basin and south-east Queensland.

The unusual wet conditions in parts of the tropical north were reflected in the streamflow conditions in the Northern Territory and Cape York region. In contrast, streamflows were mostly average to below average in the South West Coast of Western Australia.

Minor flooding continued in the New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia

Average to below average rainfall in New South Wales and Queensland eased the ongoing flooding situation in several catchments. Minor to moderate flooding continued along the Darling–Barka River and some tributaries to the Darling–Barka River in southern Queensland, northern and central New South Wales. Minor flooding continued along the Lachlan River in New South Wales and along the Diamantina and Warburton Rivers and Cooper Creek in north-eastern South Australia.

Overall high storage levels across the country and most capital cities

By the end of June, the total water storage volume in Australia reached 70% of full capacity; slightly higher than the previous month. Despite most of the major storage levels being high, there are individual pockets of low storage volumes; particularly in western Victoria, central Queensland, western Tasmania, and some urban storages for Adelaide and Perth.

Despite below average June rainfall for coastal south-east South Australia, flood waters from upstream rivers contributed to increased inflows into some of Adelaide's storages, resulting in a small increase in the stored volume. In addition to surface water storages, Adelaide's water supply is met by water transfers from the River Murray, augmented by desalinated water and groundwater.

Perth's surface water storages were just below half capacity at the end of June (up from 40.4% at the same time the previous year). However, with the long-term decline of surface water inflows into storages, the city's water supply is generally more reliant on desalination and groundwater sources than surface water. Perth's water supply strategy involves 'banking' of groundwater and desalinated water in its surface water storages during low demand periods to buffer peak supply period requirements.

Some central Queensland water storages remain low

In the Nogoa Mackenzie system, the storage volume decreased slightly from previous month finishing June at 22.6%. However, this is higher than same time in the previous year.

Northern Australia water storage levels are above 70% of accessible capacity

Despite only receiving average rainfall during the northern Australian wet season (October–April), the volume of water in two of the major water storages in northern Australia increased. This is mainly due to the monsoon flow and associated tropical low which developed into tropical cyclone Anika in the Timor Sea producing good inflows to the storages following relatively better conditions in the preceding winter season. Although June rainfall was unusually above average, being the dry season, the actual rainfall totals were low and not enough to increase the storages volume. The storage volume in Lake Argyle decreased by 3% and the Darwin River storage remained at full capacity, similar to the previous month.

Total storage volume in the Murray–Darling Basin remains high

During June, much of the Murray–Darling Basin received below average rainfall. Despite this, the total water storage in the Murray–Darling Basin increased slightly (up by 1%) from the previous month to 88% of capacity at the end of June. Compared to the same time last year, when the total storage volume was only 65%, the water storages are generally in a much better position.

The total storage in the northern Basin was 94% of capacity at the end of June, which is similar to the previous month, and significantly higher than the same time last year when it was only about half full.

The total storage in the southern Basin increased from the previous month to 87% of capacity in June. This is still considerably higher than the same time last year when it was only 67%. Most of the storages in the southern Basin are at or near full capacity.

The volume in the Menindee Lakes remains similar to the previous month at over full capacity. This is due to the flood waters from the New South Wales Border Rivers and Southern Queensland tributaries flowing down to the Lower Darling system.

In contrast, by the end of June, the combined storages in the Wimmera–Mallee region of the Murray–Darling Basin are only 31% full, mainly due to the below average rainfall over the autumn season (i.e. March to May).

Further detail on individual Murray–Darling Basin catchments can be found in the Murray–Darling Basin Water Information Portal.