You’re not imagining it. That round shiny thing in the sky is the sun

Paramedic specialist for the NSW Ambulance Service, Marty Nichols, says the consistent downpours have been a slog for crews.

Loading

“Whenever we get significant weather like rain, straight away it makes driving more hazardous for us and other drivers on the road, particularly around visibility and breaking distances,” Nichols says.

“When we arrive on scene we’re doing everything in a raincoat but when you add another layer of clothing, everything gets awkward and more difficult.”

Where injuries have occurred outdoors, Nichols says priorities shift from treating the patient’s pain immediately to getting them out of the weather quickly.

“Normally, we would treat your pain where you are but when it is very wet, we try to get you back in the ambulance to get you out of the rain because we know a lot of medical conditions get worse when the patient gets cold,” he says.

It does tend to put one’s gripes about broken umbrellas and crowded, humid buses into perspective.

But not everyone has been having a bad time. For a select group of businesses, the past few weeks have contributed positively to the bottom line. Outdoor clothing specialists Kathmandu has seen “plenty of interest” in their rainwear this season, according to a spokesman, especially in NSW.

Dog coat retailer Houndsome’s sales have doubled over the autumn/winter period compared with last year. Co-founder Lib Schlyder says sales usually “peter out” by August, but their waterproof range has seen sustained interest thanks to the wet.

When everything feels damp and is starting to smell, perhaps keeping the family cavoodle dry for their constitutional makes sense.

Loading

“A well-fitted coat keeps a dog warmer, drier and more comfortable, which means they’re happier to actually get outside and do what they need to do,” says Schlyder. “For owners, it means less towel-drying, fewer baths, and far less mud tracked through the house.”

Which brings me back to those gumboots. As it turns out, they have sprung a leak, with the upper of one boot separating from the side. Not ideal for sloshing through the unexpected thoroughfares of water that appeared between my home and the train station, but at least enough to keep me (mostly) dry up to knee height if I tread carefully.

And while the bureau predicts blue skies this week, brace yourself. Hines says it’s not time to shelve the brollies and boots just yet.

“If we look at a longer range seasonal outlook for spring, we return to an above-average chance of a wet spring where it will be wetter than usual.

“I don’t think this is the last time we will be talking about significant rainfalls this year.”

So don’t get too fond of that shiny ball in the sky. Maybe take a photo of it.

Make the most of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition with our Live Well newsletter. Get it in your inbox every Monday.