As of 9am yesterday, a total of 41.4mm of rain had fallen over the past week, bringing the total for August to 60.2mm, these figures taken from the official weather station at the Cootamundra Airport.

The amount of rain, and more so its impact, has been the talking point for locals, with many commenting they haven’t seen so much water flowing through creeks or laying in paddocks for many years.

The latest rainfall brings Cootamundra’s annual total, to date, to 602.1mm, which is 35mm above the yearly average of 567mm for the town.

By comparison, last August’s total rainfall was just 16.8mm, while the

last time the final month of winter exceeded 100mm of rainfall in Cootamundra was in 2000 when 123.2mm was recorded.

Welcoming the wet weather and what it may bring for farmers in the near future was Muttama farmer Bruce McGregor.

“We had about 21mm on Tuesday and about 17.5mm on Wednesday,” Mr McGregor said.

“Muttama Creek is running well and all other smaller creeks and streams are running and I’m pretty sure most dams would be full.”

Mr McGregor said like many other district farmers he has received more rain in the first seven and a half months of this year than he did for the entire 12 months of 2009.

“The rain’s very good for the farmers and will help set us up for a good spring,” he said.

“It has given us good sub soil moisture and given everyone hope for a good

harvest.”

Although the rain has been great for farmers Mr McGregor said they will still need to see some follow up rain during the spring.

“There are sure to be some issues

arising in spring,” he said.

“Locusts could be one problem and a lack of follow up rain another, but

getting a good season will really be in the lap of the Gods.

“In saying that, this has been the best start to a season for a long time.”

Bureau of Meteorology technical

officer John Darnley said more rain is expected in the short term.

“Cootamundra’s monthly average for August is 53mm, so we are already well above that,” Mr Darnley said.

“We’ve probably now seen the last of the rain for a few days.

“It should fine up today before we see another change late tomorrow with rain forecast again for Sunday.

“It has been good weather for farmers and the outlook for spring is 50/50 in terms of average rainfall.”