A number of September rainfall records have been broken in Central Australia as a rare spring northwest cloudband moves across the nation.
Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Jessica Lingard said a few locations near Uluru had received significant rain.
“The rain gauge at Curtin Springs has been around for 72 years and has recorded 33.4 millimetres, which is a new daily September record,” she said.
“Yulara has also had a new [September] record with 31.6mm … so we’ve had rainfall records breaking in the Territory with a lot more rainfall to come.”
The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting widespread rain across central and south-east Australia in the coming days. (Supplied: Bureau of Meteorology )
‘Perfect’ rain
At Curtin Springs cattle station, 100 kilometres east of Uluru, Lyndee Severin said the rain had been widespread across the desert country.
“We’ve had just over 36mm in 36 hours, it’s been nice steady, soaking rain. I couldn’t ask for it to be any more perfect,” she said.
“There will be a little bit of run-off hopefully, which will put water into some of our dams, which have been dry.”
Mrs Severin said a number of lucky tourists in the region would have seen it “raining on the rock”.
“There were waterfalls coming off Uluru yesterday.
“If anyone is heading out there, you need to go when it’s raining and don’t wait … that’s been lovely for visitors to see that special event,” she said.
According to the weather bureau, the highest daily rainfall total ever recorded at Yulara Airport, near Uluru, was 104mm on February 20, 2000.
Danielle Haigh, from Athelle Outback Hideaway near Ti Tree, said rain in the Red Centre was always a great sight.
“It’s so lovely to wake up in the morning and see puddles and see it actually raining here,” she said.
“The kids are out there straight away jumping in the puddles, it doesn’t happen very often out here.”
Rain has fallen across large parts of Central Australia. (ABC Rural: Victoria Ellis)
Weather event heads southeast
There is a flood watch in place for areas near the WA/NT border with isolated rainfall totals in excess of 80mm possible on Tuesday.
The weather bureau says by Wednesday the rain event will start moving into south-east Australia.
By Thursday there is the potential for moderate to heavy rain across the central east coast of New South Wales, including the Greater Sydney area.
