Welcome rain in parts of NSW | Weather In Focus

A low pressure trough combined with moisture-laden onshore winds caused heavy rain in eastern NSW during the first half of this week.

Widespread falls of 30 to 70 millimetres were recorded between the Illawarra and Hunter during the 24 hours to 9am on Wednesday.

In Sydney, Terrey Hills picked up 85mm of rain during the 24 hours to 9am on Wednesday, which was the site's best rain since June 2016.

A rain gauge at Warragamba Dam collected 59mm of rain during the 48 hours to 9am on Wednesday, which was its best rain in at least six months.

The heaviest rain from this event was recorded in the Upper Hunter.

Careys Peak in the Barrington Tops registered 143mm during the 24 hours to 9am on Wednesday, its biggest daily fall in 11 months.

Further north, there was useful rain over some fire-affected areas of north-east NSW on Tuesday and Wednesday, although falls were hit and miss.

During the 24 hours to 9am on Wednesday, Grafton's 19.4mm was their highest daily total in six months, while Coffs Harbour (22.8mm) had its heaviest rain in three months and Port Macquarie (11.6mm) its best drop in two months.

Closer to the larger fire grounds, Drake received 6.4mm and Meldrum, to the east of Armidale, collected 10mm. Unfortunately, dry thunderstorms ignited new fires in some areas of northeast NSW on Tuesday.

Falls have been lighter over central western NSW this week, although some areas picked up decent rain. Bathurst's 35mm during the 48 hours to 9am on Wednesday was its biggest two-day total in seven months. Further north, Mudgee collected 34mm during the last 48 hours, while Dubbo only picked up 9mm.

Another trough and cold front will cross NSW this weekend, bringing another bout of rain and possibly storms.

Check the latest forecasts in the coming days for up-to-date details on this system.