While most of NSW has received a healthy drenching this April the southwest of the state has missed out completely and is struggling through one of its driest starts to a year on record.
According to WeatherZone figures, the region has received only around 10mm of rain so far in 2009, well short of the January to April average of around 100mm.
This follows consistently below average rainfall over the southern Murray Darling Basin since 2001.
Thankfully the next few days will finally bring relief as a series of rain producing, cold fronts cross southeastern Australia.
Much of the South West Slopes, Riverina and Lower Western are likely to receive more rain than they've had in the last four months.
Totals by Sunday night should grade from about 10mm near the SA border to around 50mm on the higher southern ranges, most of which will fall during Friday and on Saturday night.
There is even the potential for follow up showers on Tuesday and Wednesday as another front sweeps over the region.
Email a friend