Most of the Western District experienced its wettest day for 2014, with the rain front hitting Warrnambool at lunchtime and continuing to drizzle throughout the afternoon.

Port Fairy’s rain gauges were the region’s fullest yesterday, with 30 millimetres captured between 9am and 5pm, while Warrnambool gained 26mm, Portland 24mm and Hamilton 9mm.

Late March, especially St Patrick’s Day, is considered by many south-west farmers as the unofficial start of the region’s autumn break, although substantial rain has failed to fall during that period for the past five years.

Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Stephen Wood said grey skies would linger throughout the weekend and into early next week.

He said downpours during the past fortnight weren’t a long-term winter rainfall indicator.