Australia Weather News

Agriculture authorities are monitoring the fallout from Canberra's recent above-average rainfall, but say the capital region has seen the worst of the downpours.

Parts of New South Wales have already recorded their wettest September on record and the national capital has received more than double its average rainfall this month.

In the state's central west, the State Emergency Service said 100 properties were affected by floodwaters after the Lachlan River peaked overnight.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Blair Trewin said while spring in the ACT would still be soggy, it would not be as wet as winter.

"One of the main drivers for the rain that we've seen over the last four or five months has been conditions in the Indian Ocean have been very favourable to rainfall in Australia," he said.

"The influence of that on the Australian climate starts to back off as we get toward summer."

Winemaker Ken Helm has been in the Canberra region since 1973 and said the season was the wettest on record.

"We're looking at spring with our Riesling and other grapes that are probably the best we'll ever see because we've got saturation in the soil and plenty of water," he said.

"But if it continues to be wet all the way through from bud burst … we could be facing some problems with disease like powdery mildew.

"But Europe would have a season like this every year. If they can control [those diseases from taking hold] so can we."

Sheep farmers rejoice while canola farmers still struggling

Ed Storey, a fourth generation sheep farmer from Murrumbateman, said the season had been fantastic for graziers.

"We had the rain start in the middle of May and it's been very constant since," he said.

"We've had a fall of 80 millimetres in three days, last week we had 45 millimetres, and the two weeks prior to that we had another 40 millimetres.

"And there's the prospect of more rain coming at the end of the week."

CSIRO agronomist John Kirkegaard said while some farmers may be rejoicing, others were still suffering.

"In these very wet spring conditions there are fungal diseases that will affect canola plants," he said.

"So instead of producing lots of health pods, those stems are going to rot off and not come to anything.

"While the season was looking fantastic, with issues like flooding you can see that high yield disappearing in front of your eyes."