Near record-breaking rainfall surprises small town of Condobolin as it recovers from severe drought

Rain has unexpectedly saturated part of New South Wales’ central west, surprising and delighting farmers and business owners recovering from the worst drought in living memory.

The Bureau of Meteorology recorded 97.6 millimetres at its station at Condobolin’s airport in the 24 hours to 9:00am, or around a quarter of the town’s annual average of 416mm.

It is the highest total recorded at the site since BOM started recording rainfall there in 1994.

In town, the owner of the newsagency Vicki Hanlon recorded even more with 125mm in her gauge.