For a town on the brink recently of running out of water, flash floods, heavy rain with some hail brought some much needed relief to Tenterfield on Sunday.
Up to 70mm fell in some parts, and up to 50mm east of the town which has been beset by drought for two years and by fires since last September.
Locals were given the incredible sight of Tenterfield Creek in flood (above) as the rain lifted the town's water supply level by 10 per cent adding to the glee of a recently found bore, that had been augmenting supplies.
There was hail damage in town but locals were generally excited to finally see some solid rain.
Farmer Bronwyn Petrie and local councillor said "water is water, but it has made people happy and happy". Some of the rain fell on the firegrounds, one of which had been going since last September.
(Video courtesy of Alumy Creek)
As severe winds over the last few weeks had blown most of the ash away, there was not a huge amount of charcoal washing into dams and creeks.
She said there was 42-46mm on the eastern side of Tenterfield and between the New England Highway and the town dam there was 67mm. "For those who got under it, they will have full dams now," she said. Some people had missed out and the official recording for Tenterfield town was less than 10mm (6mm).
Tenterfield Creek was in full flood from the rain. (Tenterfield's average rainfall for the year to November is 743mm, and they've recorded just 255mm this year so far, with the highest fall back in January of 30mm).
There was also good storm rain in other areas of the Northern Tablelands and on the North-West Slopes. Glen Innes had 35mm, Guyra 37mm, Emmaville 45mm and Tingha 28mm. Also Narrabri had 26mm and Quirindi 17mm, with more storms and showers predicted for Monday in the parched north of the state.