SYDNEY - NSW has recorded some promising drought-reduction figures, and the situation is expected to improve further next month.
The latest official figures show the area of the state in drought has dropped below 70 per cent.
NSW Department of Primary Industry figures, reported by News Ltd today,show widespread rain across the state has reduced the area in drought from 93.2 per cent in January to 69.9 per cent in July.
The July figures are based on rainfall in June.
With the state experiencing further widespread rain in recent weeks, the August figures are expected to show an even bigger improvement.
NSW Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald told News Ltd: "The last time we saw drought figures as low as this was May last year."
Experts say 330mm of rain will need to fall over the next three months for the dry to be formally declared over.
Last month represented the biggest reduction in area moving out of drought, dropping from 80.7 per cent in June.
In June, the eastern half of the state generally received falls of 25mm or more, resulting in several areas being reclassified.
While the western part of the state received less rain, it was still enough for five areas to shed their drought status.
The storm that hit the Hunter and Central Coast last month resulted in the region recording the highest amount of rainfall in the state.
Singleton recorded a massive 250mm, while further south Braidwood, near Canberra, recorded 211mm.
After bordering on empty, the state's dams are also now filling up with water.
Burrinjuck dam in the south of the state is 38 per cent full, while Chaffey dam near Tamworth is at 29 per cent.
Sydney Catchment Authority figures released on Thursday showed Sydney's dams to be at 56.8 per cent capacity, News Ltd reports.
