By 9am on Friday, 181 mm had been recorded since January 1 by the Bureau of Meteorology at its automatic weather station at Dubbo City Regional Airport.

But the figure is well below the average 446.8 millimetres (mm) of rain that falls in Dubbo between the start of January and the end of October.

The bureau’s seven-day forecast for Dubbo as of Friday morning rules out a repeat performance of heavy showers.

There is a 40 per cent chance of 0.4mm falling on Tuesday and a 30 per cent chance of up to 1mm on Wednesday.

The 62.8mm exceeds the average 45.6mm collected at the airport during the month of October.

Only one other month this year can lay claim to above-average rainfall.

In August a total of 36.4mm fell, compared with the average for the month of  35.3mm.

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In January 28.6mm was recorded, just over half of the average 56.6mm.

The city got 2.4mm, 4mm and 6.8mm in February, March and April, respectively.

Average rainfall for the three months is 41.5mm, 60.6mm and 32.7mm.

May produced 13mm, June 18.6mm and July 1.6mm as compared with average rainfall of 39.9mm, 50.5mm and 41.3mm.

In September 6.8mm was recorded, about a sixth of average rainfall of 42.8mm.

Other communities in Western NSW received rain this week, but nowhere near as much as Dubbo.

The bureau reports of 9.8mm falling at Wellington, 34mm at Trangie, 8mm at Nyngan and  17.8mm at Cobar.

It recorded  20.2mm at Walgett, 19.4mm at Lightning Ridge, 6.2mm at Coonabarabran, 8mm at Coonamble, 12.8mm at Brewarrina, 9.8mm at Bourke and 8.2mm at White Cliffs.

State drought coordinator Pip Job has welcomed rain in the Dubbo region while looking at the big picture.

“Obviously the rainfall yesterday (Thursday) and overnight has been an absolute blessing,” she said.

“But, although it’s green, the drought conditions will continue.

“The impact this drought has had on livestock operators, on croppers and other sectors is going to continue to have an impact for a good 12 months if not longer.”