New South Wales · SA4 sub-regional conditions
Actual
35mm
Historical
83.3mm
vs Average
42%
Bar shows rainfall relative to average (centre line = 100% of average)
5.2%
volumetric (0-1cm) · Very Dry
State average: 9% (Very Dry)
1327
hotspots (5d)
State-level · NASA FIRMS
State-level · BOM Water Data
Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven is experiencing severe drought conditions with rainfall at just 42% of average and critically low soil moisture at 5.2%, well below the already dry NSW state average of 9%. These harsh conditions pose significant stress for the region's dairy herds and beef cattle, with limited pasture growth and potential feed shortages, while wine grape producers face irrigation pressures during the crucial growing period. The SA4 composite score of 29 is notably worse than NSW's state average of 34, reflecting the heightened drought risk and fire vulnerability from the combination of dry conditions and 1,327 fire hotspots detected statewide.
SA4-specific AI summary · 13/04/2026
Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven (New South Wales) has a composite agricultural conditions score of 29/100, rated as challenging. This score is updated daily using localised rainfall and soil moisture data from SILO DataDrill and BOM.
Recent 30-day rainfall is 42% of the historical average (35mm actual vs 83.3mm average).
The key commodities in the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven region are dairy, beef, wine grapes. Each commodity has its own detailed analysis page with live pricing and forward outlook.
The SA4 composite score is the average of the rainfall score (30-day actual vs historical average) and the soil moisture score (volumetric water content banded from Very Dry to Wet). Soil moisture is currently 5.2% (very dry).
