Relief finally rains down on NSW

Residents across our bone-dry state breathed a collective sigh on Thursday as exhausted farmers and brave firefighters finally heard the rumble of storm clouds and felt the sweet ­relief of rain. SEE THE JOYOUS PICTURES

• Rain is sweet relief for a burnt, dry country

Residents across our bone-dry state breathed a collective sigh on Thursday as exhausted farmers and brave firefighters finally heard the rumble of storm clouds and felt the sweet ­relief of rain.

Families danced in the downpour for hours with their children and pets, some of whom had never seen rain before.

Jake and Zahli Finch with their pups Bailey and Hazel playing in Stephens Creek, Broken Hill. Picture: Kelly Finch

Jake and Zahli Finch in Stephens Creek, Broken Hill. Picture: Callum Marshall

“When it happened we just couldn’t believe it, that it was actually raining,” Broken Hill mother-of-two Kelly Finch said.

“The kids and the dogs played for hours, they just couldn’t stop smiling. My husband and I were watching them play out there in the storm and we just couldn’t wipe the smile off our faces.

“The dogs have never seen water like that before, the joy that it brought … it’s just water but it’s amazing how much it can lift your spirits, it was absolutely brilliant.”

Commuters dusted off the umbrellas in Sydney’s CBD. Picture: John Grainger

A rare scene in Sydney’s CBD on Thursday. Picture: John Grainger

Milton Rural Fire Service deputy captain Glenn Patterson and brigade mate Tess Oss-Emer were doing maintenance on the brigade truck, after six weeks of battling fires on their door step, when the rain began to fall.

“I just want to see it rain and rain and rain,” Mr Patterson said.

Heavy rain seen on Enmore Rd in Sydney’s inner west. Picture: Dylan Robinson

Most major fire zones ­received at least 10mm to 15mm of rain on Wednesday and Thursday, providing sweet relief for firefighters still battling out-of-control blazes. There were 80 fires burning last night, the lowest number in weeks.

The NSW Rural Fire Service said the rain would “go a long way” towards containment.

The Bureau of Meteorology said NSW was not completely out of the danger but the cool change and wet conditions were providing much needed support to ­farmers.

Rafferty Eddington, 1, of Paddington jumps in a puddle at Centennial Park. Picture: Liam Driver

By lunchtime Thursday Sydney had received more than 10mm of rain while more than 20mm had fallen in Armidale.

Port Macquarie, Macleay and the Hawkesbury got ­almost 50mm. Most parts of the fire-ravaged south coast received 10mm to 20mm.

BOM is predicting there to be a further 30mm to 80mm of rainfall in NSW between Friday and Sunday.

Grace Groves, 7, rejoices in the rain on her family farm near Gunnedah in drought-ravaged northwest NSW. Picture: Peter Lorimer

Farmer Nat Groves walks through rain drenched paddocks on the family farm near Gunnedah. Picture: Peter Lorimer

For Gunnedah resident Nat Groves, his wife Kate and their three children, it’s been over two years since they’ve seen ­decent rainfall.

“Hearing the rain, you just forget how amazing the sound actually is, especially on a tin roof there’s just nothing better,” he said.

“If it pours down there will definitely be parties, it’s definitely already lifting morale.”

Milton RFS volunteers Glenn Patterson and Tess Oss-Emer celebrating as the rain starts to fall in Milton on Thursday after six weeks of fighting fires. Picture: Jonathan Ng