Orange's wettest October in a decade could be a sign of things to come, if some of the latest summer outlook data the Bureau of Meteorology has released is anything to go by.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Orange's official BoM station at the airport recorded 106.6mm throughout October, a wet end to the month bringing 78.8mm in the last seven days.
It's the city's best October rainfall figure since 2010, when 160mm fell and was followed by a serious drenchings in November and December, where 165.2mm and then 319.2mm - including 94mm on Christmas night - fell respectively.
The BoM released its Severe Weather Outlook for October to April, with roughly average potential for heatwaves and severe thunderstorms.
That warning is largely fueled by the current La Nina patterns we're experiencing, one that's likely to bring more rain to eastern Australia over the coming months, with some drought affected areas already seeing rainfall deficiencies ease and water storage levels increase.
Orange's water supply currently sits at 64.84 per cent - the highest it's been since May, 2018.
A low pressure system over NSW has been the catalyst for the recent deluge across Orange, and while thunderstorms and rain are predicted to feature throughout summer.
- READ MORE: MP calls for new Orange Fire Station
Orange has so far recorded 984.8 throughout the first 10 months of the year, and is on track to break the 1000mm barrier for the first time since 2016.
The figure is in stark contrast to our last two annual rainfall tallies, with 479.6mm recorded in 2019 and 589.6mm in the rain gauge come the end of 2018.
The beefed up total this year is in large part to a bumper start to the calendar year, with the BoM's Orange Agricultural Institute station recording 350.8mm throughout the months of March, April and May this year, which was our best run leading into winter since 1990.
- READ MORE: East Orange's Spring Street protest ramps up
There's no signifcant rainfalls on the horizon in the next seven days, with a return to more favourable Spring-like conditions come Wednesday with a top of 24 degrees.
The Central Western Daily relies on your support to keep doing what we do. If you're not already a subscriber, please consider coming on board. For as little as $3 a week for full digital access, a subscription represents great value.
HAVE YOUR SAY
- Send us a letter to the editor using the form below ...