Showers persisted through the day, following substantial falls overnight, encouraging many to pick up a good book or ease into a movie, dry inside.

THE gentle pitter-patter of rain across rooftops was the soundtrack to many indoor activities yesterday.

Showers persisted through the day, following substantial falls overnight, encouraging many to pick up a good book or ease into a movie, dry inside.

Tamworth recorded 13 millimetres in the 24 hours to 9am yesterday and a further 10mm to 3pm while German backpackers Svenja Wachsmuth, Anna Hoffmann and Josephine Werner played cards at the Tamworth Youth Hostel.

The rain also failed to spoil the Labour Day holiday for those at Nundle where 40mm or so fell over the

weekend.

“We had a few campers come in (yesterday), it was a bit wet to cook breakfast,” Margaret Schofield at the Peel Inn said.

“The rain has been great. Everyone is very appreciative.”

Mrs Schofield said expectations were high over what level Chaffey Dam might end up.

“There is a bit of a fresh in the river, so hopefully that might fill the dam up,” she said. Chaffey was just shy of 92 per cent of capacity before the most recent falls.

The bulk of the rain over the Chaffey catchment fell from about midnight Sunday. In the 24 hours to 9am yesterday the Bureau recorded 33mm at the head of the Peel and 34mm at the Nundle Malonga station – boosted by another 20mm to 3pm taking the total beyond 50mm.

The rain was also quite welcome in the west where in the same 24-hour period, Walgett scored 21mm, Coonabarabran 30mm and Narrabri West 29mm. By mid-afternoon Narrabri had recorded a further 15mm but the total for Coonabarabran and Walgett had only increased by about 2mm.

Farmers across the Liverpool Plains were heartened to see some good falls. In the 24 hours to 9am yesterday Quirindi scored 29mm, Caroona 14mm, Gunnedah and Mullaley 19mm, and Tambar Springs 10mm. Gunnedah recorded a further 9mm to 3pm.

Though the Northern Tablelands largely missed out on the overnight rain, some handy falls were received during the day; Armidale scored 19mm to 3pm, Glen Innes 23mm and Inverell 20mm.