THE Tamworth region has enjoyed one of its mildest Februarys ever after average maximum temperatures sat two degrees below historical records.
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According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), Tamworth can usually expect the average daily temperature to be 31.1 degrees.
However, this year the month's average maximums hovered around 29.6 degrees.
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At the other end of the scale, historically Tamworth can expect daily minimums to be around 17.1 degrees, but in 2020, the average daily minimum was 19.2 degrees.
Compared to 2019, the month's average maximums dropped by five degrees from 33.8 degrees to 29.6 degrees.
Likewise, February 2020s hottest day was cooler than last year, clocking in at 38.6 degrees on February 1, compared to 39.2 degrees on February 19 2019.
Both days still trail Tamworth's hottest February day of 41.1 degrees recorded in 1983. This year's February low of 12 degrees was still significantly warmer than the record of seven degrees set in 1965.
The cool change was caused in large part by the welcome rainfall which hit most parts of the region.
BOM recorded 202.2mm of rain at the Tamworth Airport weather station, which blew last year's monthly total of 14mm out of the water.
The falls were some of the largest in living memory, but were not enough to break the weather station's record of 347.5mm in 1955.
The station's best single day was February 9, when 55.6mm of rain was recorded.
However, that was a long way off breaking the record of 111.5mm set in 1928.
The 202.2mm has gone a long way towards helping Tamworth average mean rainfall of 673.6mm.
Despite the rain, the district is still categorised as being in drought and most of the catchments are still recovering from the prolonged dry period.
Keepit hit 11 per cent on Friday, while Chaffey Dam was up to 14.4 per cent.
Split Rock Dam was nearing four per cent and the region's biggest dam, Copeton, is currently holding 10.7 per cent.
BOM is predicting Autumn could be wetter than average for parts of western NSW, while daytime and overnight temperatures will likely be higher than average.
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
