Following the weekend heat, a cool change during Monday and an associated cloud band brought extensive rainfall. Some areas received significant rainfall totals during Monday and Tuesday.
The heaviest falls were within Sydney region, Central Coast, Central Tablelands, North west slopes (eastern side), Northern Tablelands, Hunter Valley and the Mid North Coast.
For 9 am Tuesday morning, the highest rainfall totals for Sydney included:-
High Range and Mona Vale Golf Club - 53 mm.
Frenchs Forest - 50 mm.
Areas north of Sydney had heavier falls including:-
Glen Alice - 73 mm.
Byalong - 68 mm.
Webbs Creek at Wisemans Ferry - 66 mm.
Colo Heights - 65 mm.
During Monday, Sydney's northern and eastern suburbs received the heavier falls while the south west had lighter falls.
Persistent rain resulted in the Port Macquarie Golf Club receiving 73 mm while the highest total for the day occurred at Mooral Creek north west of Taree where 131 mm fell.
WEDNESDAY 23 DECEMBER 2015
For the 24 hour period to 9 am 23/12/2015, further rainfall occurred across Sydney including:-
Berowra - 39 mm.
Randwick - 32 mm.
The highest total was 103 mm at Nambucca Heads.
Large areas of the Hunter Valley and Mid North Coast received a soaking with falls including:-
Bowra Sugarloaf (Bellinger Valley) - 88 mm.
Port Macquarie - 86 mm.
Dorrigo Mountain Top - 78 mm.
Walcha - 83 mm.
Armidale - 36 to 46 mm.
This was a significant rain event. Rainfall for the two days when combined has exceed 50 mm across many eastern areas and some regions had in excess of 100 mm. The wettest areas were the Central Coast of New South Wales, parts of the upper Hunter Valley and the Mid North Coast.
The following images are provided:-
1 - The cloud mass causing the persistent rain acquired from NASA (MODIS Worldview) and dated 22 December 2015.
2 - Rainfall for eastern New South Wales (Bureau of Meteorology) and dated 22 December 2015.
3 - Rainfall for Sydney (Bureau of Meteorology) and dated 22 December 2015.
4 - Rainfall for the North Coast (Bureau of Meteorology) and dated 23 December 2015.
5 - Rainfall for Sydney (Bureau of Meteorology) and dated 23 December 2015.
6 - Accumulative rainfall for New South Wales (Bureau of Meteorology) week ending 23/12/2015.