October to date has continued to be very dry with only 2.2 mms rainfall making 45.3 mms since the start of August in Wangaratta.

The showers which were forecast for Wednesday afternoon and evening did not arrive and it appears that there will be very little or no rain up to mid October at major towns in North East Victoria.

The total rainfall at Wangaratta since the start of August and this the fourth driest behind 1982, 1944 and 1914.

Last Saturday, 4 October, Kalgoorlie recorded a deluge of 60 mms .

This was Kalgoorlie's wettest October day since 62.5 mms in 1909.

The recent heavy rain at Kalgoorlie did not reach not reach Wangaratta and at nearby major towns; but moderate isolated rainfalls were reported in northern NSW (as the cloud band kept it's strength).

Past cases of heavy October rainfall in Kalgoorlie were on 1899, 1909, 1975 and 1982.

Three of those 1899, 1909 and 1982 certainly led to very dry and much warmer than normal from September right through to February in Victoria.

The event in 1975 saw very wet conditions from July to January 1976 .

Further heavy rain has been recorded at Wilsons Promontory during the first week of October with 89 mms.

This followed 494 mms during July to September which was the wettest July to September period since 646 mms in 2013.

It is interesting to note that the January to June period at the Prom was drier than average and this dry period also happened this year at the Prom from January to June.

The first week of October have seen near record heat of up to 43 degrees in the Kimberley region and down to Eucla area.

Nullabore near Ceduna recorded 41.3 degrees last Saturday, 4 October.

This was the hottest for early October on record , surpassing the previous hottest for early October since 40.4 degrees in 2013.