The Bureau has retired the Monthly Water Update. You can find information about rainfall, streamflow, stream salinity and storages in the Bureau's Water Information, Water Data Online, Australian Water Outlook, Drought statement and Climate Summaries. If you have questions or feedback about this retirement, please contact water@bom.gov.au

Monthly Water Update

small map representing the district Murray-Darling Basin

Murray–Darling Basin

December 2022 Summary

Rainfall was average or lower than average across 98 per cent of the area, spread throughout the drainage division. Total rainfall was 27 mm, 43 per cent lower than the long-term mean of 47 mm for December.

Streamflows were higher than average (including highest on record) for 61 per cent of the sites, distributed over the southeast, south and centre. At 15 sites streamflows were the highest for December since 1980. Severn River at Ashford had the third lowest streamflow for December since 1980.

Median streamflow salinity (electrical conductivity) varied between sites from 33 to 6 273 μS/cm. Streamflows were high quality for 55 per cent of the sites, fresh for 28 per cent and brackish for 14 per cent of the sites. Burra Creek at Worlds End (Low Flow) had the highest salinity of all sites.

During December, storage volumes increased in three systems, decreased in seven and remained stable in six. By the end of the month, the volume of water stored was 100 per cent of the total accessible capacity, which is nine percentage points higher than the previous year.

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Rainfall

map visualising rainfall details

Streamflow

map visualising streamflow details

Streamflow salinity

map visualising salinity details

Water storages

map visualising storage details

Rainfall

map visualising rainfall details for Murray-Darling Basin

Rainfall statistics

Rainfall decile group Percentage of area
Highest on record since 1900 0%
Very much above average Less than 1%
Above average 2%
Average 65%
Below average 31%
Very much below average 2%
Lowest on record since 1900 0%

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