In the 23 and a bit hours to 0810 AEST on Thursday 18 April...

In the 23 and a bit hours to 0810 AEST on Thursday 18 April 2024, pleasing that Moree in northwestern NSW received 21.6 millimetres of rain, just in time for planting to commence if it hasn't already.

Further south, two BOM rain gauges at Gunnedah Airport and Gunnedah Resource Centre are only 10 kilometres apart. The former recorded 12.2mm while GRC's gauge measured 31.2mm. Massive variability that underscores how localised rain can be.

Narrabri (between Gunnedah and Moree) only had 5.2mm. To its west in the 'marginal country', Walgett that's the terminus of a long, much used during 2023 grain rail line enjoyed 12.6mm, besting Tamworth that isn't in a graingrowing area.

Given NW NSW was poor for the winter 2023 crop, it's quite encouraging for the 2024 forthcoming effort that a few centres have benefited from these downpours or showers.

Further south and way down to the Victorian border and in Victorian growing areas, the BOM mostly isn't forecasting rain for the next week. However some of these towns and localities have had reasonable rain already, as noted above.

It's looking like GNC's CEO will be able (in time) to say that it's quite a positive ECA (east coast Australia) outlook but one has to caution this is at an extremely early stage for the winter 2024 crops.