diff --git a/lib/iris/experimental/regrid.py b/lib/iris/experimental/regrid.py
index 87d9e7e902..afbf87dee8 100644
--- a/lib/iris/experimental/regrid.py
+++ b/lib/iris/experimental/regrid.py
@@ -473,6 +473,24 @@ def _regrid_area_weighted_array(
         grid.
 
     """
+    # Determine which grid bounds are within src extent.
+    y_within_bounds = _within_bounds(
+        src_y_bounds, grid_y_bounds, grid_y_decreasing
+    )
+    x_within_bounds = _within_bounds(
+        src_x_bounds, grid_x_bounds, grid_x_decreasing
+    )
+
+    # Cache which src_bounds are within grid bounds
+    cached_x_bounds = []
+    cached_x_indices = []
+    for (x_0, x_1) in grid_x_bounds:
+        if grid_x_decreasing:
+            x_0, x_1 = x_1, x_0
+        x_bounds, x_indices = _cropped_bounds(src_x_bounds, x_0, x_1)
+        cached_x_bounds.append(x_bounds)
+        cached_x_indices.append(x_indices)
+
     # Create empty data array to match the new grid.
     # Note that dtype is not preserved and that the array is
     # masked to allow for regions that do not overlap.
@@ -497,24 +515,6 @@ def _regrid_area_weighted_array(
     # Assign to mask to explode it, allowing indexed assignment.
     new_data.mask = False
 
-    # Determine which grid bounds are within src extent.
-    y_within_bounds = _within_bounds(
-        src_y_bounds, grid_y_bounds, grid_y_decreasing
-    )
-    x_within_bounds = _within_bounds(
-        src_x_bounds, grid_x_bounds, grid_x_decreasing
-    )
-
-    # Cache which src_bounds are within grid bounds
-    cached_x_bounds = []
-    cached_x_indices = []
-    for (x_0, x_1) in grid_x_bounds:
-        if grid_x_decreasing:
-            x_0, x_1 = x_1, x_0
-        x_bounds, x_indices = _cropped_bounds(src_x_bounds, x_0, x_1)
-        cached_x_bounds.append(x_bounds)
-        cached_x_indices.append(x_indices)
-
     # Axes of data over which the weighted mean is calculated.
     axes = []
     if y_dim is not None:
@@ -565,15 +565,15 @@ def _regrid_area_weighted_array(
                     raise RuntimeError(
                         "Cannot handle split bounds " "in both x and y."
                     )
+                # Calculate weights based on areas of cropped bounds.
+                weights = area_func(y_bounds, x_bounds)
+
                 if x_dim is not None:
                     indices[x_dim] = x_indices
                 if y_dim is not None:
                     indices[y_dim] = y_indices
                 data = src_data[tuple(indices)]
 
-                # Calculate weights based on areas of cropped bounds.
-                weights = area_func(y_bounds, x_bounds)
-
                 # Transpose weights to match dim ordering in data.
                 weights_shape_y = weights.shape[0]
                 weights_shape_x = weights.shape[1]