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NSW rain now focussing on the coast

Brett Dutschke, Wednesday July 18, 2012 - 13:31 EST

During the last week rain across New South Wales favoured the west of the state, but now the focus turns to the coast.

Much of the western slopes and plains had its biggest July rain in several years with help from a slow-moving low pressure trough and unseasonably high atmospheric moisture. This has led to a healthy increase in the Murray-Darling's water in storage.

Widespread 25-to-50mm fell across the catchment last week. Some places, including Narrabri, Inverell, Coonabarabran and Thredbo, gained about 100mm.

For parts of the North West Slopes and Plains and Northern Tablelands, this has made up for deficiencies in the first six months of the year. Inverell is now running close to its January-to-July average rainfall, thanks to its heaviest July rain in 14 years.

The low pressure trough and moisture moved off the east coast over the weekend, taking nearly all of the rain with it.

It has left most of the state dry, which has allowed patches of fog and frost to develop in the mornings.

In the coming days showers will develop east of the ranges, the area which missed out on last week's biggest rain.

A low pressure system looks certain to form off the coast, as early as tonight. This low will drive showers onto the coast and ranges, with very little penetrating further inland.

On the whole, it doesn't look nearly as wet as western NSW last week. Showers will generally bring 15-to-30mm north of Sydney, less further south.

- Weatherzone

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