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Sydney can see clearly now the rain has gone

Soggy Sydney is lurching, slowly towards drier conditions this week, after some suburbs saw their heaviest rain in almost 20 years this weekend.

During Saturday, beaches were empty, parks were frequented by only die hard dog walkers and gardeners celebrated.

The heavy rain swept through the Sydney Basin during Saturday and into Sunday morning, with very few 'dry' breaks.

Sydney took 77mm, the heaviest in two years. 143mm so far this month, 26mm above the monthly mean and our 3rd wettest February this century, already.

Some notable 24 hour totals from Saturday's rain were:

- Frenchs Forest - 195mm - heaviest in 12 years )6th highest on record, since 1957).

- West Pennant Hills - 168mm

- Turramurra - 198mm - the heaviest in 19 years - the tenth wettest day ever recorded since 1912.

The dams did well too with around 100 to 250mm, reportedly lifting levels by around 5%. This is the biggest rise since June 2007.

Things are on the change though. Already, skies are clearing and other than a shower or two early on Tuesday the rest of the week should be drier and warmer. Probably a good idea to make the most of it though, as showers and storms look set to return at the weekend.

- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2010

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