THE Border has experienced its wettest day this winter with more than 27mm falling on Albury-Wodonga on Saturday.
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The single-day figure was double the monthly total for August last year and the largest daily downpour in the region since April.
It also exceeded the highest daily rainfall for last winter, which was 17.4mm.
Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Dean Stewart said a combination of factors contributed to the rain setting in on Saturday.
"A cold front pushed across southern Victoria and it slowed in North East Victoria and didn't really push past that area until late this morning (Sunday)," Mr Stewart said.
"It was the front slowing plus additional pressure from the upper level trough that meant there was extended rainfall."
The rain from Saturday to late Sunday morning was widespread across the southern Riverina and North East Victoria with Hunters Hill having 42mm, Wangaratta 14.4mm, Rutherglen 27.8mm, Yarrawonga 16.6mm, Lake Dartmouth 30mm, Eurobin 37mm, Corowa 20mm, Tocumwal 14mm and Wagga 29.4mm.
Walla agronomist Tim Paramore said his area had received 26mm and the rain was "very significant".
“It's wonderful, it means we've got a little of run-off which gets a bit into dams, which we haven't had for ages,” Mr Paramore said.
He added with expectation growing about the possibility of a dry El Nino weather pattern in the second half of 2015 the rain helped ease anxiety overhanging the agricultural sector.
"It gives us the potential to have some grain and hay,” Mr Paramore said.
"Everybody has got the El Nino in the back of their minds and that was getting people nervous about making decisions, but it's helping and making us feel a bit optimistic that if spring cuts off early as predicted we will get something."
Mr Stewart said isolated showers would continue on the Border for much of the week with up to five millimetres predicted for Wednesday and a significant frost likely on Tuesday.
"We will still have some shower activity through until Thursday and not much to follow after that, but it will remain chilly throughout the week,” Mr Stewart said.
"Even though the showers are easing off, temperatures won't be too warm with 10 degrees on Tuesday, 11 degrees on Wednesday, 12 degrees for Thursday and 13 degrees for Friday, so the winter chill continues."
The weekend weather also boosted snow levels with an extra 10cm reported at Falls Creek.
Mr Stewart said snow showers were likely across the week, with Wednesday set to have the biggest falls.
The minimum temperature on Mount Hotham and Falls Creek is tipped to be minus nine degrees on Tuesday.
