Murray–Darling Basin: Outlook for 2019 Account
as at 12 June 2019
- Rainfall was below average across most of the region during the 2018–19 year to date.
- Storage levels at 30 June 2019 are expected to be less than the same time last year.
- Water use is likely to be less than the last year due to the dry conditions.
For further information on the expected inflows and future commitments for the region during the 2018–19 year scroll down this page.
Future prospects
Figure S15 Water outlook for the Murray–Darling Basin region for 2018–19
- Outflow and discharges from the region's storages are expected to exceed inflows, which is likely to result in a decrease in water assets at the end of the year.
Expected inflows
Figure S16 Year-to-date and monthly rainfall deciles for the Murray-Darling Basin region during the 2018–19 year
- Total rainfall during the 2018–19 year to date was below average across most of the region
- Rainfall during July 2018–April 2019 was the lowest since 2002-03 for that 10-month period.
- In January 2019, rainfall was the lowest on record for that month in large areas across the northern part of the region.
Figure S17 Storage levels for the Murray-Darling Basin region during the 2018–19 year so far compared to the same time last year
- Storages were 31% full at 11 June 2019 compared to 48% full at the same time last year.
- Storage levels peaked in September 2019 following the winter rainfall and then steadily declined for the remainder of the year.
Future commitments
- It is likely that water use will be less than that during the 2017–18 year due to decreased water allocations and reduced streamflow for unregulated diversions.