THE April super storm brought record rainfall that some parts of the Hunter have not seen in more than a century.

Branxton received 454.8 millimetres, which is the highest April rainfall the town has had since 1863, and Nelson Bay had 492 millimetres – the largest April deluge since 1881.

Tocal recorded 528.5 millimetres – a record that has not been seen for more than 50 years - and 171 millimetres of it fell between April 21 and 22.

The township of Clarence Town,  27 kilometres north of Nelsons Plains, had 451.8 millimetres, which is the highest April rainfall since 1946, and 139.6 millimetres more rain than the town received in February 1955. Nearby in Seaham, 152 millimetres fell between April 21 and 22.

In Raymond Terrace 431.6 millimetres of rain fell – the highest April monthly rainfall since 1931, and 140.8 millimetres more rain than the town received in February 1955.

Woodville copped 602.4 millimetres in April, and Paterson received 547.6 millimetres.

Rain dramatically eased in May, but there was still a decent deluge in a few places that were affected in the April storm.

Clarence Town had 131 millimetres, Tocal had another 103 millimetres, Maitland had 80 millimetres, and Paterson had 35 millimetres.

Nelsons Plains farmer Peter Manuel said the heavy April rainfall, and rain in May and June, had hampered the growth of pastures and crops which slowed their recovery.

“It would have been better if the natural disaster happened in late summer,” he said.

“You don’t want to see a lot of rain going into winter because you don’t get the heat of the sun during the day to dry out the paddocks.

“The overcast weather and fog keeps the moisture in the ground and that means it takes a lot longer to be able to get in there with machinery to work the ground.”

Tocal Agriculture College president Dr Cameron Archer said the damage relentless rain could cause was evident in the absence of 7300 kilometres of fencing across the region.

Fifteen kilometres of fencing was lost on the college grounds as a result of the wet ground and the force of the water and wind.

“It is completely gone, one minute the fence was there, and the next there was nothing,” he said.

APRIL RAINFALL:

Branxton: 454.8mm – highest figure since records started in 1863

Cessnock: 298.6mm – highest figure since before the 1960s

Clarence Town 451.8mm – highest figure since 1946. There was 312.2 in February 1955.

Maitland: 535mm

Merewether: 572mm*

Muswellbrook: 151.3mm *

Nelson Bay: 492.0mm – highest since before 1881

Newcastle: 295.2mm *

Newcastle university: 355.3mm*

Ourimbah: 484.4mm – highest since before 1953

Paterson: 547.6mm – highest figure since before 1900

Raymond Terrace: 431.6mm – highest since 1931 when 477.6mm fell. The town had 290.8mm in February, 1955.

Singleton 294.8mm*

Tocal: 528.2mm – highest in more than 50 years. Monthly average usually 70.1mm

Williamtown: 364mm – highest since before 1942

Woodville: 602.4mm

KEY: * highest on BOM online records Source Australian Bureau of Meterology

Source: Bureau of Meterology

STORM RAINFALL:

Rainfall reading on April 21(AM), source Australian Bureau of Meterology

Dungog: 312mm

Wallsend: 186mm

 Rainfall reading on April 22 (AM), source Australian Bureau of Meterology

Maitland: 301 mm

Tocal: 171mm

Seaham: 152mm