Despite recent ongoing rain, total inflows to the upper catchment of the Namoi River have been "minimal" according to the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.
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In its most recent water allocation statement, the department reported that the Namoi Valley received above average rainfall during January.
But, even though it received about 2 gigalitres (GL) during this time, "the severity of the current drought still remains largely unchanged". This is because of the "prolonged extreme dry weather drying the catchments".
"With extreme dry conditions experienced over the last 30 months, more sustained rainfall and runoff is required to bring the system back to normal conditions," the report said.
"General security allocations remain unchanged at zero per cent for the 2019-2020 water year."
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Keepit Dam is about 1.6 per cent full, holding 13,300 megalitres (ML), while Split Rock Dam is sitting at about 0.9 per cent full, holding about 6700 ML.
The department wrote that "these storages will need at least about 95,000 ML of combined inflow before normal regulated river operations can resume".
The temporary water restriction prohibiting pumping by the high security and unregulated river license holders is also being extended till February 17.
"This recent restriction is in addition to the temporary water restriction on general security license holders that has been in place. The department will monitor flows closely, and, should critical needs be met, the order may be lifted," the report said.
The department's report also detailed forecast rainfall, stating that the Bureau of Metereology's seasonal outlook for February to April "indicates that the Namoi catchment is equally likely to get above or below average rainfall".
"Both daytime and night-time temperatures over this period are very likely to be above average."
