Since February, just 59.2 millimetres of rain has been recorded. The long-term average for the period is 152.4mm.

The lack of rain, coupled with above-average temperatures, has left gardens and dams across the region parched.

Bureau of Meteorology data shows just 3.6mm of rain fell in February, way down on the long-term average of 58.4mm.

March was not much better, with 42mm of rain recorded in a month that usually receives 51.7mm.

Even the 3mm of rain received on the weekend did not do much to boost the April total, with just 13.6mm received across a month that has a long-term average of 42.3mm.

Sofala Road farmer David Suttor told the Western Advocate last month that his dams were already bone dry, with this sheep surviving on bore water.

“At the moment we are hand-feeding lambs and some ewes because we’re trying to preserve what pastures we have got so that if it does rain they have a chance to take off,” Mr Suttor said.

Along with the lack of rain during the last three months, Bathurst’s maximum daily temperature has been well above average.

In February, the average daily maximum was 29.9, well above the long-term maximum of 27.2.

In March, 27.7 was the average daily maximum (long term it is 24.6) and in April the average was 24.2 (long-term average is 20.1).

Weatherzone meteorologist Guy Dixon said the warm, dry weather was due to El Nino conditions that have been present since the start of summer. However, things will soon neutralise, and by winter a mild La Nina weather pattern will be in place across southern Australia, including Bathurst.

“It’ll be warmer and wetter into the next three months,” Mr Dixon said.

In addition, daily maximum and overnight minimum temperatures are predicted to be warmer than average for May, June and July.