With 22 millimetres falling in 12 hours to midday on Thursday rainfall in Orange has exceeded the average amount for June for the first time since 2016.

The average fall at the Orange Airport weather station for June in the 25 years from 1996-2021 is 77 millimetres.

As of midday Thursday Orange has received 93 millimetres rain this month.

The bureau is forecasting rain to continue on Friday and Saturday this week before it gets drier and sunnier into next week.

A report from the bureau said better than average rainfall was expected for the next three months into September.

Its long-term forecast rates Orange, and the Central West, as having a 75 per cent chance of seeing better than average falls from July-September.

The rain is helping fill water storages in Orange.

According to the Orange City Council's website the combined storage of Suma Park and Spring Creek dams is currently 75.44 per cent.

Spring Creek, Gosling Creek and Lake Canobolas are all full while Suma Creek Dam is at 69.7 per cent.

The BOM records reveal just how changeable June can be in Orange.

In June 2016 a whopping 219 millimetres fell in the city.

However, just one year later as the drought began to bite in the city only four millimetres of rain was recorded for the whole month.

Levels of 52.6 millimetres in June 2018, 47.2 millimetres in June 2019 and 69.2 millimetres last June were recorded in Orange.

The median amount of rain for July in Orange is 72.2 millimetres.

Orange saw slightly more rain than the average last July when 78.8 millimetres fell but the three previous July falls were well below the average.

Similarly the August average is 82.3 millimetres which was beaten last year with 121 millimetres falling.

However rainfall for the three previous years were well below the average level.

And the September average is 78 millimetres which has not been achieved since the big wet of 2016 when September was by far our wettest month.

Just in time for major sporting event finals Orange was deluged with 271.8 millimetres of rain.

It was the wettest September since records began at the airport.

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