The median rainfall for September is 75.6 millimetres but this year we only managed to gather less than half of that, a miserly 34.4mm falling into the gauge at Orange Airport.

The temperature though was close to normal, thanks to two extremely cold days on the second and third of the month being tempered by the warm final days.

According to Bureau of Meteorology climatologist Acacia Pepler, dryer and warmer conditions are expected during October. 

“The median rainfall for Orange in October is 72mm with only a 30 per cent chance of getting more than that, and a 70 per cent chance of getting less,” Ms Pepler said.

Although the possibility of an El Nino returning were high at the beginning of the year, the odds have dropped to an even 50/50.

Sun worshippers may be enjoying the rays, but for vigneron and meteorological enthusiast Stephen Doyle at Bloodwood Wines, the lack of rain is a genuine concern.

“Winter and spring is the most important time for rainfall in the vineyards,” Mr Doyle said, “But we’re 32 per cent down on the long-term median.”

In 2013 Mr Doyle had to use irrigation water during October, a task that he’s not looking forward to repeating this year.

“It’s looking worse than last year because our dam levels are lower than they were in 2013,” Mr Doyle said, “We need an inch of rain every week throughout October, that should do it.”

Despite his concerns about rainfall, Mr Doyle remains delightfully philosophical. 

“The weather here is always the same, it’s different,” he said.