Remember when it last rained in Orange? Well long-range forecasts say it will be up to summer thunderstorms to give us our next chance of a big wet.
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Meteorology site Weatherzone has produced a long-range forecast of the likelihood of rain for the next 12 months.
Based on historical weather data and long range forecasts of weather conditions it points to February next year as being the month the Central Tablelands, including Orange, can expect rain.
It gives February a rating of 8-9 out of 10 which equates to "above normal rain."
Next December and March and June 2020 are also months where above average rain is being tipped.
It is likely there will be a bit below average rainfall for spring and summer.
- Craig McIntosh, Weatherzone meteorologist
Weatherzone meteorologist Craig McIntosh said February was generally one of Orange's wetter months.
The median rainfall for Orange in February is 66 millimetres.
However, he said it was likely rain for the region would come in the form of thunderstorms rather than periods of prolonged steady rain the region really needed to break the drought.
"It is likely there will be a bit below average rainfall for spring and summer," he said.
"There is a good chance the [conditions] will bring thunderstorm rain to the area."
Mr McIntosh said areas south of central NSW were more likely to get steady rain in the next few months.
"The cold fronts that bring you rain will migrate south to Victoria and Tasmania," he said.
The Bureau of Meteorology has just released its latest climate outlook for August-October weather outlook.
It does not hold a lot of hope for rainfall in the region.
"The August to October climate outlook suggests a drier than average three months is likely for large parts of Australia," it said.
"August to October daytime temperatures are likely to be warmer than average for much of Australia, with very high chances for the northern half of country.
"Nights are likely to be warmer than average for much of Australia."
It said Orange had a 75 per cent chance of receiving just 50-100 millimetres of rain in the three months.
VIDEO: Bureau of Meteorology's Outlook
The bureau has tipped only a 25 per cent chance of Orange receiving 200-300 millimetres in the rain by October.
It is tipping August to continue to be dry with only a 35 per cent chance of Orange exceeding its median rainfall.
The median for August since records were taken at the Orange airport weather station is 71.6 millimetres.
The median for July is 69 millimetres.
With only three days of the month (as of Sunday July 28) to go Orange has seen only 22.8 millimetres for July 2019.
"So far this month you've got between one-quarter and one-third of your [average] rainfall," Mr McIntosh said.
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