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Healthy rain dampens parched Murray-Darling Basin

Ben Domensino, Thursday October 12, 2017 - 16:27 AEDT

The best rain in 6-12 months has dampened soils across parts of the parched Murray-Darling Basin during the past 24 hours.

A cold front and low pressure trough, combined with moisture streaming across Australia from the Indian Ocean, have generated the multi-state soaking.

Widespread rainfall totals of 10-20mm were recorded in South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, NSW and southern Queensland during the 24 hours to 9am today. Some places picked up more than 50mm.

Guyra's 60mm was their best rain since November 2011, while 48mm at St George was its best rain since February 2014 and more than their entire monthly average for October.

A number of places received their highest rainfall totals since autumn, including Lightning Ridge (19mm), Renmark (17mm), Loxton (10mm), Leigh Creek (10mm), Woomera (6mm), Castlemaine (19mm) and Longerenong (14mm).

The brief burst of rainfall marks a welcome change for the Murray Darling Basin, which has recently experienced its driest September on record, driest June since 1986 and the driest winter in 15 years.

- Weatherzone

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