Wild weather lashed the Hunter on Monday as a low pressure system produced wind gusts of up to 83km/h and led to dozens of calls for assistance.
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The SES responded to more than 50 jobs throughout the Hunter and Central Coast on Monday, the vast majority of which being wind and storm-related.
While the region was largely spared of the intense rains that led to evacuations on the South Coast, the total rainfall in Newcastle for the year is on track to surpass that of 2019 with the next decent downpour.
There has been more than 671mm of rain at Nobbys since January 1, compared to 680mm in the whole of 2019.
Totals have been even more improved in the Upper Hunter, which has been crippled by the ongoing severe drought in the past few years.
Weatherwatch director Don White said up to Monday morning, Scone had received more than 490mm since January 1, compared to just 281mm in 2019 and 341mm the year before. He said Scone's long-term average rainfall from January to the end of July was about 350-360mm.
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Singleton has also had a much better year with more than 578mm since the start of 2020, after just 344.4mm in 2019.
"The Hunter Valley is not doing too badly," Mr White said.
"It's been quite a big turnaround. Last year was one of the driest in 100 years."
Mr White described the rainfall as "drought easing" but stopped short of saying it was drought breaking.
"People don't like to say we're out of the drought," he said. "But we're close to being out of it.
"A single day or event isn't going to break the drought, but all the rain we've had since February has continued to ease the situation.
"Most of the farmers I've spoken to are having a great season.
"They're still worried about water supply, but some are restocking and the prospects look good."
Mr White said the solid rain was expected to continue in the second half of 2020.
He said after a positive Indian Ocean Diapole caused low rainfall last year, a weak La Nina in the Pacific would bring more moisture to the coast and beyond.
"The models indicate average or above average rainfall for the whole of NSW," Mr White said.
"It looks like a reasonable spring ahead and potentially summer too."
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Sage Swinton
Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020, and covers Newcastle council as well as other general news.
Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020, and covers Newcastle council as well as other general news.
