A forecast dry winter has come to pass for many irrigation and groundwater and rivers customers, with some farmers already irrigating early in the season.

A dry autumn has seen customers irrigating late into the season, to ensure pasture, crop and seed growth is maintained coming into a winter season that is forecast to be warmer than usual, particularly in the southwest.

Despite the forecast of a dry autumn, a wetter than usual November to January has meant there is plenty of water available in the storages for irrigation customers, alongside lower than average usage by groundwater and rivers customers.

Demand for water is expected to be strong this summer as customers look to utilise their allocations.

It has been a dry end to winter, with some districts in Southern Rural Water’s service area receiving significantly lower-than-average rainfall.  

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued an El Nino watch, indicating a 50 percent chance of an El Nino this year, with modelling suggesting sea surface temperatures will be met or exceeded by August of this winter.

Autumn is forecast to be drier than average across Southern Rural Water’s service area, continuing the warmer trend that started in mid-December last year.