Wagga is going to shiver through the weekend as winds deliver an Antarctic blast across the region.
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A grazier’s warning has been issued for the Riverina and Southwest Slopes, where cold temperatures, showers and westerly winds are expected during Friday and Saturday.
On Saturday, the expected maximum is expected to be 11 degrees, with Sunday heading for an even chillier top of just 10 degrees.
Falls of between two and four millimetres of rain are expected on Saturday, with up to five millimetres on Sunday.
Halfway through June, Wagga has recorded 24.8 millimetres of rain. June’s long-term average is 51.2mm.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s latest outlook is still predicting a drier-than-average winter, with above-mean maximum temperatures.
Department of Primary Industries agricultural climatologist Anthony Clark said NSW, including much of the southern grain and mixed farming zone, was experiencing widespread agronomic drought conditions.
“Available pasture and crop information shows the production base of the state is under considerable stress,” Dr Clark said.
“The widespread nature and intensity of the agronomic drought in autumn has put livestock feed supplies under considerable strain.
“The autumn onset of drought and widespread nature of soil moisture deficits are unusual, and southern crop producers are managing a very late season.”
Dr Clark said rain across the region in early June has led to some crop germination and some low to modest pasture growth.
“The rainfall has not provided a significant recharge of soil water stores and these crops are currently reliant on future in-crop rainfall,” he said.
“NSW Department of Primary Industries is carefully assessing how widespread the crop germination opportunities have been and continues to monitor follow-up rainfall.”