NSW has recorded the fifth-driest July on record with the dry spell marking the seventh consecutive month of below-average rainfall across the state.
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The latest Bureau of Meteorology climate summary, released on Wednesday, found it was also the driest July since 2002 with many areas across the state recording the lowest July rainfall on record or the lowest amount for at least 20 years.
NSW farmers are hurting with the bureau saying it's been the driest January to July period since 1965 which has put 99 per cent of NSW officially in drought.
The winter month has also recorded temperatures 2.23C warmer than average with NSW recording the fourth-warmest July on record.
The warm daytime temperatures made it the warmest January to July period on record.
Casino in the state's northern rivers area experienced the hottest day on July 29 when the mercury reached 27.8C
Evenings were cooler across NSW with the bureau saying July 15 was the state's second-coldest night on record.
Perisher Valley felt the freeze on the coldest night of the month on July 22 with temperatures dipping to -12.1C.
The dry conditions prompted the NSW government earlier this week to commit an extra $500 million towards a drought relief package, including $190 million in transport subsidies.
Australian Associated Press