HUNTER holidaymakers may have cursed it but many farmers across the region are blessing the consistent rain that has fallen this past week, particularly over the weekend.
The coast and the valley received heavy falls on Saturday night and yesterday morning with Singleton soaking up 22 millimetres and Scone 27.2 millimetres in the 24 hours to 9am yesterday.
In the same period Murrurundi received 17 millimetres, Williamtown 15 millimetres, 22 millimetres fell at the University of Newcastle and 15.8 millimetres at Nobbys.
Lake Macquarie suburbs and the Central Coast were drenched with Cooranbong registering 24.4 millimetres and Gosford receiving 35.7 millimetres. The falls continue the good news for Upper Hunter farmers with Murrurundi and Scone registering 80 millimetres and just under 100 millimetres respectively for the last week of December.
Anthony Cornelius, from Weatherwatch, said the steady rainfall was still linked to tropical cyclone Laurence, which crossed the country two weeks ago and settled over southern Queensland.
"It sat there so long it formed a semi-permanent trough," he said. "That's been the reason we've had a lot of moisture come down from the tropics."
January drought figures for the region and NSW are expected to show improvement.
December figures from the Department of Primary Industries show 80.8 per cent of the state still in drought with 14.8 per cent marginal and the Hunter making up part of the 4.4 per cent classed as satisfactory.
Mr Cornelius said more rain could be expected after a couple of dry days early in the week.
Email a friend