The first decent feed of tropical moisture this winter has helped soak much of central-western and south-western New South Wales with their biggest rain in more than three months and there is more on the way.

Widespread 10-to-30mm has fallen across the region with some centres gaining more than 40mm.

Dubbo was one of the wettest places, picking up 43mm, 95 percent of its monthly average and its biggest rain since March. It was also the wettest 24 hours since March for Wellington (31mm), Young (25mm), Orange (24mm), Gundagai (22mm) and Cowra (20mm).

For this far north, receiving this much rain in a day is unusual in mid-winter. It was Dubbo’s biggest July rain in 16 years. Trangie, which gained 29mm, had its biggest July rain in 18 years.

Trangie is now only 12mm short of its long-term winter average of 102mm.

Rain was widespread with even Brewarrina and Lightning Ridge in the north-west picking up 10mm, but it was generally patchier and lighter over the far west, north and coast. For some it was barely enough to settle the dust.

Pooncarie, which didn’t quite get enough rain to give the windows or vehicles a wash, just three millimetres. However, it was still its best rain this winter.

During Wednesday a weak front forced the rain-cloud off the east coast, drying out the air in the process.

This drying out will mean rainfall from the next front will be more typical of mid-winter – confined to the southern and central inland with totals generally less than 10mm, while the far north and most of the coast miss out. 

The front will also generate small hail, snow on the southern and central ranges (and possibly the northern ranges) and a burst of strong winds, all typical of a strong winter system.

– Weatherzone