ORANGE has recorded its third hottest summer and the driest summer since 2001.
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Despite good rainfall through late February, Orange only recorded a little over two-thirds of its average summer rain.
The city received 174mm over the summer months, which is 71 per cent of the three-month average of 246mm.
As Orange sweltered through its third hottest summer there was an average daily maximum temperature of 27.82 degrees.
The hottest summer on record for Orange was in 1991 with an average daily maximum of 28.5 degrees. Coming in second was 2004 with 28.2 degrees.
January was the driest and hottest of the summer months with 23.4mm of rain recorded and an average daily maximum temperature of 29 degrees.
December was also hot with an average daily maximum of 26.3 degrees, while February’s average was 27.7.
Weatherzone meteorologist Ben McBurney said February was the first month since June 2013 to record above-average rainfall.
“February had above average rainfall of 96mm, the average is 78mm,” he said.
Mr McBurney said there was a 90 per cent chance of five to 10mm today.
Tomorrow there is only a 30 per cent chance of less than 1mm of rain.
From Monday, maximum temperatures will hover around the mid 20s until Thursday, with the weather mostly sunny and very little chance of rain.
Nearby in Bathurst they recorded their hottest summer for 100 year with an average daily maximum of 30.7 degrees.
nadine.morton@fairfaxmedia.com.au