The Bureau of Meteorology might be taking a bet either way on the summer forecast, but the state’s farmers are hoping for more rain.
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Between October and December the weather outlook “shows an equal chance of wetter or drier conditions,” the bureau stated.
Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association vice chairman Marcus McShane is based east of Oatlands in the state’s South-East and said rain was a scarce resource there.
“For those in the East and South-East our season hangs in the balance at the minute,” Ms McShane said.
“If we can get some rain in the next month then we would have a decent spring, but if not things could be dire,” he said.
More rainfall is predicted for the North-West and West than anywhere else in the state in the final three months of 2017, with a median rainfall of 191 millimetres predicted for Stanley.
Devonport follows on 186 millimetres, with 139 millimetres predicted for Launceston and 132 millimetres at Conara.
Mr McShane, who is also the association’s water committee chairman, said farmers with irrigation were in a better position going into summer.
“The North and the Northern Midlands are looking fairly good. The North-East is a little bit on the dry side, but it’s not too bad,” Mr McShane said.
“There is a large portion of the state is doing well.
“The East and South-East are praying for a bit of rain to see what the season holds,” he said.
Temperatures are on the rise heading towards summer, with a median maximum of 20 degrees predicted for Launceston between October and December.
Conara’s median is 19.4 degrees, with 18.5 for Devonport and Stanley at 18.1.