1.   Now, following the rains, the wild Australian bush was as meek and hospitable as the English countryside, with only the incidental reminder of its former ferocity.

2.   It follows torrential rain yesterday, which flooded roads, and caused chaos as hundreds of commuters were stuck in traffic jams.

3.   Areas are subject to closures following heavy rains.

4.   By Friday, following overnight rains, the air was visibly cleaner and brighter.

5.   Prices could rally if growers report that the storm, which followed heavy rains in mid-December, knocked more oranges from trees and damaged the fruit, traders said.

6.   Soybean futures prices fell sharply Monday following rain this weekend in dry growing regions.

7.   That follows torrential rains last month in the grain belt areas of northern New South Wales State and Queensland states.

8.   The blazing sunshine that followed the rain has hardened the mud, making the search effort even more difficult.

9.   Weather forecasters became inadvertent players, predicting generally pleasant weather on Election Day following torrential rains over the weekend.