Ord: Outlook for 2020 Account
as at 1 December 2019
- Rainfall is likely to be close to average during the 2019–20 wet season.
- Inflows into the region's storages are expected to be higher than last year.
For further information on the outlook for the region during the 2019–20 year scroll down this page or click on the links below:
Current water levels
- Little rainfall has fallen across the region during July–November 2019, which is typical for this time of the year. Storage levels have continued to steadily decrease during this 5-month period.
- Storages were 39% full at 1 December 2019 compared to 67% full at the same time last year.
- More information on current storage levels in the region is available on the Bureau of Meteorology's Water Storage website.
Climate outlook
Figure S13 Chance of exceeding median rainfall for the Ord region for January–March 2020
- The next few months (January–March) are usually when about two thirds of the region's annual rainfall occurs. According to the Bureau of Meteorology's climate outlook (from 5 December 2019), rainfall is expected to be average to above average during this period.
- The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is expected to remain neutral for the early part of the wet season.
- Inflows into the region's storages for the 2019–20 year are expected to be close to average and more than 2018–19.
Future commitments
- Water use is expected to be slightly less than 2018–19, primarily due to the likely improved rainfall conditions compared to last year.