Weather Project 2013

• MAY:INTERACTIVE: Rain falls on Dubbo but others miss out
• MAY:Graziers on a knife edge
• MAY:Dry, but holding on
• APRIL: Driest April since 1999 with less than 2mm
• APRIL: April a dry month for parts of west
• APRIL: INTERACTIVE: April rainfall below average
• APRIL: Water use increased in catchment area across the summer
• APRIL: Storms and hail disrupted play
• MARCH: ROLLING COVERAGE: Rain tumbles down across the region
• FEBRUARY: Weekend rain a non event
• FEBRUARY: Rain just in time after Cowra's driest start to the new year in a decade
• February: Live Radar: Severe thunderstorms in Bathurst
• January: Weekend temperatures to rise again
• January: Interactive: Warnings as temperatures rise
• January: Decca Fire: A tough fight

A warm and dry start to May

THE month of May kicked off with a warm start, with record breaking and above average monthly temperatures recorded across the central west.

Dubbo recorded a maximum temperature of 28.6 degrees on May 1, breaking its maximum May record of 27.6 degrees set in 2007.

In Mudgee that same day the mercury hit as high as 27.2, breaking the 25.4 degree record set in 2007.

In the Bathurst region temperatures reached the monthly record of 24.2 degrees, which was set back in 1967 and Orange, which reached 21 degrees, fell just short of its monthly record of 21.5.

Some much needed rain fell across the central west region on March 14

Dubbo recorded 11.2mm of rain, Bathurst recorded 9.6mm and Forbes recorded 8.2

Cowra received 7.6mm, Mudgee 8.0, Lithgow 6.4 and Orange 6.0.

Forecasts for the weeks ahead predict it will be mostly sunny across the region, with some possible showers.

Cooler temperatures are expected for the remainder of the month, with early morning frost predicted right across the region.

What does the weather look like at your place? Email your pictures through to lpinkerton@fairfaxmedia.com.au for our gallery