Some parched New South Wales towns have received more rain in 24 hours than they have all year but it’s not enough to break the drought that’s gripped the state for months.
“These aren’t the sort of rainfall totals that will break the drought.” ‘This drought is different’: it’s drier and hotter – and getting worse Read more Far-western Broken Hill recorded 34mm in just 24 hours as a storm hit the town, eclipsing the 24.6mm it received between January and September this year.
Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) Some welcome #rain in western #NSW over the past 24 hours.
See https://t.co/3PzGXvE5AZ for more rainfall observations pic.twitter.com/FecDtZUnaz October 4, 2018 Local farmer Lachlan Gall, who runs sheep and cattle east of the regional centre, said the rainfall had been sporadic, with some stations receiving 100mm while his own got just 2mm.
“It seemed to turn into a bit of a rain band and that provided a bit of relief for some lucky people,” Gall said.
“Everyone’s still here, we’re still battling on.” The State Emergency Service was kept busy with volunteers responding to more than 40 jobs around the town, including roof damage and one car saved from flash flooding.
But it was the south-western village of Pooncarrie which recorded the biggest drenching, 53mm in the 24 hours to 9am on Thursday.
Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) Heavy #Rain on the way for #Sydney and the Central Coast.
Expect rain to increase in intensity later tonight.
“There are a lot of farmers who won’t have any crops at all now,” she said on Thursday.