The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) included BOM data in its most recent water allocation statement, including the seasonal outlook.

According to the BOM, "daytime temperatures over this period are likely to be warmer than average with night time temperatures very likely to be warmer than average for the catchment".

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The statement also said that the Namoi regulated river water sources received "average to above average rainfall during March".

"With the rain events that occurred in January 2020 through to the end of March 2020, water resources continue to improve," the statement said.

"The upper catchment received between 50 to 100 mm of rain, resulting in inflows to the upper storages of about 7.5 gigalitres (GL). This resource improvement reduces the March 2020 resource shortfall from 43.0 GL to 35.0 GL."

The DPIE wrote that "the historical minimum inflow for 32 months prior to current drought was 155 GL. The net reservoir inflows from the last allocation of August 2017 to end of March 2020 (32 months) were 105 GL".

"This is shown [in the graph] where the gap between actual inflow into storages (dashed line) and the minimum inflow budget since the last allocation, represents the shortfall in the amount of water that was assumed available and allocated, and the water that became available," the statement said.

Both the Upper Namoi and Lower Namoi drought stages currently remain at stage 3 (severe) in the DPIE drought stage.

Further information on drought stages can be found at: www.industry.nsw.gov.au/water/allocationsavailability/droughts-floods/extreme-events