Record smashed as storms deliver six months’ worth of rain in Broken Hill

Broken Hill received almost half its yearly rainfall total on the weekend, breaking a 63-year-old record. 

More than 100 millimetres of rain fell on Saturday and Sunday, exceeding the total the outback city received in the previous six months.

Broken Hill’s drainage system was not built to handle large volumes of rain there were reports of sewage spilling out.

Roads flooded and power was lost in the town of Silverton.

Telstra services in Broken Hill experienced a major outage on Sunday.

The previous single-day January record of 75.2mm, which was set in 1961, was eclipsed by the 85mm recorded at the airport on Sunday.

Broken Hill’s averages 27.7mm of rain in January, its wettest month, and the annual average is about 225mm.

Long-term resident Jesse Edwards said the lightning storm was the largest she had seen in the area.

“It was unbelievable,” she said.

‘Been a while’

Grazier Sarah Parker, who runs about 7,000 merino sheep at Bindarrah Station, said the 65mm that fell was the most she had seen in years.

“It’s been a while,” Ms Parker said. 

“The dams are chock-a-block and that’ll probably give us 18 months for some and two and half years for the big dams.

“We can’t get out — the creek that’s flowing now is the biggest one we’ve seen in 20-25 years.”

Dozens of dirt roads in the region remain closed.

West Darling Pastoralists’ Association president Terry Smith said the rain would help graziers sustain their operations for the rest of summer.

“It will be a lot of pressure off those who were lucky enough to get a bit of a drink,” he said.

“Let’s hope it’s a sign of change and it keeps coming through.”