Parts of southern NSW expecting 20-30mm over next two days

Forecasters say many areas of southern NSW will get between 20-30mm over the next few days as a front moves through. Areas of the Riverina which have missed out on decent falls in the last six months may finally get some decent totals.

Weatherzone forecaster Jacob Cronje said the rain would start in the Riverina this evening and fall during the night into Wednesday morning. “By 9am tomorrow (Wednesday) we should see 20-30mm in some places in the Riverina, with totals between 2-10mm in areas west towards Ivanhoe.” The unsettled weather could also bring rain further north right up to Bourke and Cobar.

Anywhere south of Condobolin should get some reasonable totals with that rain moving into the Southern Tablelands on Wednesday and Thursday producing falls also of between 20-30mm, Mr Cronje said.

On Wednesday, rain will spread north towards Orange, Dubbo and Coonamble with 10-20mm possible, Mr Cronje said. There will also be solid falls in northern Victoria which will assist fodder growers.

Although much of the grain and seed crops in NSW has been decimated by the drought, the rain will help save some barley, wheat and canola crops still holding on. Rain a few weeks ago saved some canola crops in the Cowra area and this rain could fill them out nicely. There was a strong belt of crops between Lockhart and The Rock, but heading north to Coolamon, crops had been hit hard by the dry and frost. Most canola crops had been baled in the last few weeks.

Rain in the central-west had helped some farmers get oats crops in to help feed stock as fodder prices continue to sit at record highs. There had been a flush of new season hay into the market from South Australia, which was helping supplies. Grain was still being brought in in large amounts from Western Australia and this would go on well into next year – especially for struggling dairy farmers. Some grain was now being delivered by ship to NSW ports.