The city’s rain gauges can expect between 10 and 20 millimetres on Tuesday afternoon or evening, as can residents in Bathurst, Parkes, Young, Cowra, Oberon, Lithgow and Blayney.

That figure will rise to up to 40 millimetres on Wednesday, according to the seven-day forecast, which also predicted thunderstorms.

Weatherzone meteorologist Tom Hough said the rain will be moving through the region because of “a low pressure system with a trough over NSW”.

“There is a system developing along the east coast and that is bringing the heavy rainfall to the region,” he said.

Mr Hough said the heavy showers on Tuesday and Wednesday will not help drought-affected farmers in a major way in the Central West, but “any rain is better than nothing”.