FIRST it was the heat, now Tamworth will be bracing for a deluge of rain this week.
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According to Weatherzone, Tamworth sweltered through its second hottest January on record this year.
However, an east coast trough could send storms and steady showers to the region and possibly 100mm of rain.
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At the very least, it should drive down temperatures which have been hovering at historic, and uncomfortable, highs.
The only hotter January on record in Tamworth was posted in 2019.
In 2020, Tamworth's top temperatures were 3.6 degrees hotter than the long term average (32.7 degrees.)
It comes straight after the city's hottest-ever December in a year which saw a number of weather benchmarks tumble.
2019 was Tamworth's hottest, and second-driest, year on record.
While January in 2020 didn't claim a heat record, Weatherzone meteorologist Joel Pippard told the Leader it was, "in historical terms, still very hot."
The intense heat was tempered somewhat by consistent rainfall towards the end of the month.
Tamworth recorded more than 97mm of rain in the first month of the year.
While we've only just ticked over to a new month, February records have already been broken.
It was an uncomfortable night's sleep in Tamworth on February 2 with the mercury failing to fall below 28.4 degrees.
It was the hottest February night on record and the second-warmest night ever in Tamworth.
It was only pipped by January 7, 2004 which posted a 29-degree night.
The temperatures should take a dive this week with tops predicted to max-out in the high-20s and low-30s.
"We have a coastal trough developing off the east coast and that should bring a lot of moisture," Mr Pippard said.
He said it would "be a bit more stormy" in the North West, compared to consistent rain predicted on the coast.
"But we are talking about high amounts of rainfall," he said.
"Up until next Sunday, most areas could get about 40-70mm.
"It depends on how the system plays out, and how widespread it is, but it be more like 100mm in some isolated areas.
"Thursday is the most likely day, then the weekend should be wet as well."
Jacob McArthur
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
