The rain started in the early evening for many locations with wild weather bringing strong winds, lightning strikes and much-needed rain.

READ MORE: Lightning strikes ignite bushfire

Dubbo was the wettest location on Sunday evening with 39.4 millimetres of rain falling between 6.53pm on Sunday and 8am on Monday.

The downpour boosted the Bureau of Meteorology’s rain gauge at Dubbo Airport, with the monthly total for January now 47.6mm

Mudgee also received a downpour of 27mm overnight on Sunday, while 20.2mm was recorded in Lithgow.

Good falls were also recorded in Orange (13mm) and Bathurst (10.4mm).

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While Cowra (1.8mm), Forbes (1.8mm) and Parkes (0.6mm) received barely any rain and Young received nothing at all.

Thunderstorms are predicted for much of the region from Monday to Wednesday.

Meanwhile, lightning strikes in the Bathurst region on Sunday ignited a bushfire at Hill End with NSW Rural Fire Service crews scrambling to the scene.

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