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Byron Shire
October 20, 2026

Soaking rain ends record breaking dry on North Coast

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Recent rains have broken a record-breaking period of dry weather on the North Coast. Photo Chris Dobney
Recent rains have broken a record-breaking period of dry weather on the North Coast. Photo Chris Dobney

With two months still to go, four weather records have been broken in the region this year, with Lismore Airport recording two of its heaviest ever months of rain and two of its lightest ever falls.

Soaking rain has re-greened the North Coast over the weekend, with falls of up to 150mm in some areas over the past 72 hours.

Some parts of the region experienced falls in excess of 50mm in the 24 hours to 9am today.

The welcome falls have ended a record-breaking dry spell but, despite the significant rain, all rivers in the forecast region remain well below their flood levels.

After the highest June rainfall on record (335.4mm), Lismore Airport recorded its lowest ever August and September rainfall totals, receiving 2.4mm and 0.2mm respectively.

The 806.8mm March floods also topped the scales.

According to the seasonal outlook, released on October 12, the Bureau of Meteorology predicts the region has around a 50 per cent chance of above average rainfall.

November to January nights are likely to be warmer than average.

‘Tropical Pacific Ocean temperatures may approach La Niña levels over the coming months. However, the corresponding warm sea surface temperatures that typically develop to the north and northwest of Australia during La Niña events are less likely to develop. This means that overall, effects upon Australia are likely to be reduced,’ the outlook predicts.



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