Orange is soaking after receiving its heaviest day of rain in 46 years of records with 103mm. Rain began slowly on Thursday morning, before it became more consistent and heavier into the evening. This morning rain began to ease, but not before the record was broken. The previous heaviest rainfall occurred in January 1992 when 99mm fell in a 24 hour period. Nearby Bathurst gained 92mm, its heaviest rainfall in 42 years and its heaviest March fall in over 100 years of records. In the Blue Mountains locations generally gained between 30 and 60 millimetres. The exceptionally wet conditions developed as a low pressure trough clashed with a very moist atmosphere. A slow-moving high pressure system crossing the Tasman Sea during the past week has been driving a very moist airmass over the state. As the high moved further east the trough moved in from the southwest to interact with the moisture laden atmosphere. The Central Tablelands can expect rain to ease and clear today with only the chance of a few showers by the afternoon. On the weekend cloud is expected to remain, however there is only the chance of the odd shower or two, mostly on the east of the ranges.