The bureau released its rainfall outlook yesterday, showing no strong odds for a wetter or drier winter for Victoria.

It means Ballarat will be hoping for rain, with Central Highlands Water relying on local rainfall and inflows to help get off Stage 4 water restrictions.

To date, Ballarat has had 100mm less rain than for the same time last year, with just 119.6mm so far, compared with 222.2mm to June last year.

Bureau of Meteorology climatologist Grant Beard said the main difference was a wetter autumn in 2007.

But he said a possibility of higher rainfall this spring could balance things out.

This month, Ballarat has recorded 51.6mm of rain, less than the May average of 65.5mm.

No more rain is expected this week.

Last May, Ballarat had a good month of rainfall, with 89.8mm.

Going into winter, it will be a telling time for the district's farmers, especially to the north of Ballarat, where they are waiting for their irrigation allocations.

Glenlyon potato growers Des and Denise Leonard will be desperately hoping for rain this winter.

"We have to have good rain . . . the dams are empty," Mrs Leonard said.

The Leonards have already planted oats and grass seeds, which they usually can't plant at this time of year.