Melanie and her children dropped in to pick up her prize of a brand new rain gauge this week.

As well, Katherine Times published a free 2018 rain chart this week for readers to keep track of what we hope is another good wet season to come.

Make sure you get your copy, along with a free calendar.

Melanie’s guess for the first rains over 10mm for the wet season was Remembrance Day, November 11.

Of course, history now records that the Katherine Country Club measured almost 50mm on the weekend.

“I had a look at the chart of the first rains fell over the past 15 years and picked from that,” Melanie explained.

Our thanks to local weather watcher and former Bureau of Meteorology volunteer Jim Mathieson for suggesting we run the competition again.

Jim also provided the past charts of the first rains of the past 16 rains to see how “late” this first opening salvo above 10mm was recorded.

Measured at the Katherine Country Club’s weather station.

11/11/2017       47mm

20/11/2016      18.6 mm

04/11/2015      20mm

06/11/2014      20mm

15/10/2013      13mm

06/11/2012      10.8mm

13/10/2011      (20mm)

13/10/2010      29mm

12/12/2009      14.8mm

15/11/2008      17.4mm

31/10/2007      15.4mm

18/11/2006      15mm

10/10/2005      19.4mm

08/11/2004      43mm

11/11/2003      30.6mm

06/11/2002      18.2mm

12/10/2001      45.8mm

19/10/2000      89mm

Mr Mathieson said the preoccupation with the buildup and arrival of the first rains is always a popular topic of public debate.

Katherine received another downpour overnight, Tindal recorded 44.8mm.

After months of nothing, Katherine has not shot up to 125mm for the month, well above the long-term average of 93.3mm.