THUNDER, lightning and patchy downpours of rain in the Tamworth area on Monday night have marked the beginning of storm season, according to the local State Emergency Service (SES) boss.
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The Tamworth region got wet during a rainy weekend, followed by the storm.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) station at Tamworth airport notched 3.4mm of rain in the gauge during the 24 hours to 9am on Tuesday.
It brings Tamworth's official total to 11mm of rain over the past few days.
Monday night's storm brought patchy downpours, and residents took to social media to report varying amounts of rainfall across the Tamworth region.
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One Moore Creek local said 15mm of rain fell within seven minutes, 13.5mm fell in total at a North Tamworth home and 12.5mm at Tintinhull.
Other locals reported 20mm at Windmill Downs, 20mm at Forest Hill and 11mm at Piallamore, which reportedly fell within 15 minutes.
Almost 10mm of rain fell at the head of the Peel River near Nundle in the 24 hours to 9am on Tuesday.
According to the BoM, it brings the total to just less than 25mm over the past few days.
Chaffey Dam had already risen slightly on Monday morning, to hit 26 per cent full.
Gunnedah didn't miss out on the rain, but only 2.6mm fell, according to the BoM weather station at the town's airport.
SES Deputy Zone Commander for the region Superintendent Mitch Parker said the storm was relatively minor, but it was enough to do some damage.
Superintendent Parker said an SES crew headed to help out at a North Tamworth home on Tuesday, after a tree uprooted and a "large branch" fell across a fence and a house.
It is understood no one was injured in the incident.
Superintendent Parker said the lashing signified an early start to the summer storm season in Tamworth.
"Basically we need to be vigilant with trees and other debris ... we're going to see stronger winds and more storms rolling through, which means the potential for more flash flooding and also damage from trees and other stuff that's not tied down," he said.
Although the rain is welcome and replenishing water sources, Superintendent Parker warned that with the ground wet and the catchment filling, there is an increased risk of flooding during major storm events, and people need to be prepared.
Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald.
Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald.
