According to www.weatherzone.com.au, which uses data gathered by the Bureau of Meteorology at Orange Regional Airport, the city received 54.8 millimetres of rain in March.

There were only two 24-hour periods in the 31-day stretch where more than three millimetres was recorded: the 24 hours to 9am on Saturday, March 23, when 28.2 millimetres fell, and seven days later, when a reading of 17 millimetres was taken.

But, despite being more than welcome in the ongoing drought, that wasn't enough to push the monthly total beyond the 20-year average of 71 millimetres.

The yearly rainfall total is also in deficit compared to the 1997-2017 mean, with the 178.6 millimetres recorded so far this year well shy of the long-term mark of 210.7 millimetres.

Unfortunately the first week of April is tipped to be a dry one in Orange, with almost no rain on the seven-day forecast.

Temperatures are forecast to be mild, with predicted maximum temperatures in the low 20s and minimums hovering around the eight degree Celsius mark.

VIDEO: Some welcome rain in the Central West ...

It was a better - and damper - story elsewhere in the Central West in march, with several locations lucky enough to receive well above their monthly averages.

Mudgee was by far the wettest place to be during the past month, with 140.4 millimetres of rain recorded during the 31 days, approaching triple the city's long-term average of 55.5 millimetres.

Young also received good rainfall during the month, with the 95.8 millimetres recorded almost double the usual 49.5 millimetres the town typically receives during the month.

Other Central West locations to record above average rainfall in March included Bathurst with 74 millimetres, Cowra (57.2 millimetres), Grenfell (49 millimetres), Oberon (89.6 millimetres) and Wellington (71.4 millimetres).

Much of the region remains in drought, except for a small area around Bathurst which has now been declared non-drought.