THE Albury Airport rain gauge has stubbornly refused to record any rain showers in the city in the last two days.

At first it seemed like the airport had managed to miraculously dodge the downpours.

This afternoon it was revealed a faulty gauge is more likely to be to blame.

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Richard Carlyon this afternoon confirmed there had been decreased visibility at the airport during a heavy rain shower at about 12.45pm which hasn't registered on the gauge.

He said technicians were now investigating the fault, although it may be that the official rain reading is forever lost.

RAIN WATCH (in millimetres): updated at 2.15pm

Albury: UNKNOWN

Benalla: 9

Corowa: 0.4

Corryong: 68

Hunters Hill: 3.4

Wangaratta: 9.4

Rutherglen: 0.2

Last night a BOM forecaster said the Border may have missed out recording any rain from yesterday’s storm front, but would be amazed if the twin cities lucked out today.

In fact, between 40-80 millimetres of rain is forecast for the Border today.

“It’s an extensive area of storm that is reaching across NSW,” senior forecaster Phil King said.

“Albury and Wodonga were a bit unlucky to miss the storm, but it’s not over with another front coming (today).”

The Border had gone 35 days without recording rainfall; the bureau recorded 0.2 millimetres on January 22.

February last year also recorded a dry spell until almost 50 millimetres fell over two days at the end of the month.

The sky over parts of Albury and Wodonga was dark and threatening yesterday, but the rain fell in surrounding areas.

For the 24 hours to 9pm yesterday, Bright recorded 28 millimetres, Mount Hotham 21.8 millimetres, Wangaratta 5.4 millimetres and 0.6 millimetres for Rutherglen.

Hunters Hill in the Upper Murray recorded 29.4mm, with Tallangatta resident Merryn White describing torrential rain with thunder and lightning about 5pm.

A flood watch has been issued for the Upper Murray, Mitta, Kiewa, Ovens and King catchments.

People living or working along rivers and streams should continue to monitor the latest forecasts and warnings and be ready to move to higher ground.

Yesterday’s rain helped in the northern area of the Harrietville-Feathertop fire where 13 millimetres fell and more was expected today.