Central residents woke to a colder morning but overnight and morning rain is bringing relief to farmers battling with drought-like conditions (February 22).

MetService communications meteorologist Lewis Ferris said the temperature drop of 15’C in the past day is close to breaking the past ten years of records.

“[Having] a cold change move in from the south this late in February is not unheard of and a classic warm, northwesterly wind typically would precede the cold front’s arrival.

“A 15’C drop in maximum temperature for the likes of Alexandra is getting towards the rarer end of the scale.” 

In the last ten years of daily records, there's been one case of a 16°C drop; in December 2014, when the temperature fell from 27°C to 11°C the following day.

The weather forecast for Central this week

Lewis said the cool air also brings in some rain, potentially heavy at times and a heavy rain watch is in force until 11am Wednesday.

“Our Alexandra Airport station has only recorded 40mm of rain so far this year and it's possible it will get another 40mm before the end of Wednesday.

“The cooler air lingers but the weather settles out as the week wears on, temperatures back into the twenties for the weekend.”

PHOTO: The Central App