Central West Local Land Services

Drought conditions continue to impact the central and north of the region.

• The Combined Drought Indicator (CDI) shows approximately 75% of the region being in the Drought Affected category at the end of March.
• The area in the Non-Drought category has remained static since the February update.
• There has been average rainfall for most of the region although on-ground reports suggest that this has been highly variable. This rainfall has provided much needed soil moisture in the lead up to the winter cropping program although some regions continue to have low soil water values.
• Producers continue to monitor forecasts closely and implement drought management strategies as required for their farm enterprises, heading into Autumn.
• The NSW DPI continues to closely monitor conditions in this region.

Click on the scroll bar below the map to compare with previous months.

Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)

There has been an improvement in plant greenness values over the last several months and many areas have above normal plant greenness levels.

• There is a distinct gradient in conditions across the region with areas to the south (e.g Forbes) having higher greenness values than the north (e.g. Coonamble).
• The very high levels of plant greenness in the southwest are the result of rainfall received from ex-tropical cyclone Kirrily.
• Areas with below average levels of greenness indicate low levels of ground cover and standing dry matter available for livestock.
• Some of the extremely negative NDVI areas (brown patches) are water bodies.
• The impacts of the December bushfire in the Pilliga north of Coonabarabran remains evident in this month’s Update.

Click on the scroll bar below the map to compare with previous months.

Individual Drought Indicators

Drought indicators are variable across the region.

• The Drought History charts show the individual response of the drought indicators for Condobolin, Coonabarabran, Forbes and Nyngan.
• Condobolin remains in the Non-Drought category and the drought indicators continue to respond well to recent rainfall.
• The drought indicators remain low at Coonabarabran. Rainfall has been below average across the region for several months and this continues to impact the underlying indicators. Significant rainfall is needed to improve conditions in the region.
• Forbes remains in the Recovery category as the SWI had not reached the threshold for ‘Non Drought’ (50). There has been a decline in all the indicators over recent weeks and rainfall over the coming weeks will be needed to aid a longer-term recovery in the region.
• The drought indicators have made a steady improvement at Nyngan. Rainfall has been effective in improving plant growth and soil water indicators. Further rainfall is needed to aid the continued improvement in conditions in the region.
• To access a Drought History chart for your Parish, visit the Seasonal Conditions Information Portal