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Severe weather hits NSW, with storms bringing hail, flooding and a tornado NSW residents near Kiama told to evacuate with dam wall at risk of failure
(about 2 hours later)
State Emergency Service crews have responded to almost 600 call-outs and helped with 34 flood rescues as heavy rain and hail lashed parts of NSW. The State Emergency Service issued an urgent evacuation notice to residents living downstream from Jerrara Dam, west of Kiama, as severe weather hit the NSW south coast on Tuesday.
The focus of the severe weather switched to the Illawarra on Tuesday after Sydney and other districts were hit hard overnight. The dam’s wall had shown signs of failing due to heavy rainfall in the area, the SES said .
Residents near Jerrara Dam, west of Kiama, were advised to prepare for evacuation if heavy rain continued on Tuesday. “The dam failure warning system for Jerrara Dam has issued a Red Alert for areas downstream of the dam stating the failure is imminent,” the SES said.
Radar shows rotation of the #EastCoastLow: over 150mm rain in #Illawarra & #SouthCoast over last 24hrs, more to come. pic.twitter.com/92LbQsFLTy Failure of the dam would result in extremely dangerous flooding to areas including Mount Brandon Road, Jerrara Road and Jamberoo Road, an SES spokesman said.
“The dam is currently being decommissioned and we are noticing the water is spilling over the top and is too risky, we are asking residents to evacuate immediately,” the spokesman said.
Crews from Kiama SES were on their way to a flood rescue of three adults and two children who were unable to evacuate because of flooding at Glenbrook Drive.
SES deputy commissioner Greg Newton told the ABC drivers should avoid travel unless absolutely necessary, and take the utmost care if they had to go out.
DAM FAILURE EVACUATION ORDER for Jerrara Dam. NSW SES directs residents to evacuate immediately - risk of dam failure pic.twitter.com/7MX54lZB92
The SES said it was keeping a close eye on 40 to 50 properties in the area that risked becoming isolated by flooded roads.The SES said it was keeping a close eye on 40 to 50 properties in the area that risked becoming isolated by flooded roads.
“We are watching and waiting to see how many millimetres of rain we get in the area today,” an SES spokeswoman said.“We are watching and waiting to see how many millimetres of rain we get in the area today,” an SES spokeswoman said.
Motorists around Kiama and Albion Park were warned to travel with extra caution. Radar shows rotation of the #EastCoastLow: over 150mm rain in #Illawarra & #SouthCoast over last 24hrs, more to come. pic.twitter.com/92LbQsFLTy
Images on Twitter showed rivers of water coursing through Sydney streets on Monday night at the height of the storm, as hail pounded the inner west and other suburbs. Overnight the State Emergency Service crews responded to almost 600 call-outs and helped with 34 flood rescues as heavy rain and hail lashed parts of NSW.
The focus of the severe weather switched to the Illawarra on Tuesday after Sydney and other districts were hit hard overnight.
Pictures and video posted on social media showed rivers of water coursing through Sydney streets on Monday night at the height of the storm, as hail pounded the inner west and other suburbs.
The streets of Circular Quay more like a river at the moment. #Sydney #storm pic.twitter.com/e70CKAVQjaThe streets of Circular Quay more like a river at the moment. #Sydney #storm pic.twitter.com/e70CKAVQja
One foot of water running down Harris Street in Pyrmont last night #SydneyStorm #Rain #Flood pic.twitter.com/rFdiG62jG8
Hail pics sent to us by 7 News viewers in Leichhardt & Drummoyne. #hail #SydneyStorm pic.twitter.com/pzFx9OUuxg
On Monday a tornado swept through Dubbo and damaged several homes.On Monday a tornado swept through Dubbo and damaged several homes.
Some of the images I'm being sent of this "tornado" in Dubbo are pretty crazy... pic.twitter.com/Q6uJSBuctGSome of the images I'm being sent of this "tornado" in Dubbo are pretty crazy... pic.twitter.com/Q6uJSBuctG
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a flood watch warning for the region, along with the south coast, Lachlan and Nepean River valleys. On Tuesday the Bureau of Meteorology issued a flood watch warning for the Illawarra region, along with the south coast, Lachlan and Nepean River valleys.
SES crews prepared for more calls on Tuesday as the severe weather headed to the NSW south coast.
Residents south of Wollongong and Kiama were expecting more heavy rain as SES crews continued the clean-up from Monday’s flash floods.
Damaging winds of about 65km/h, gusting up to 90km/h, were forecast to affect the coastal fringe of the Illawarra on Tuesday afternoon and evening, the Bureau of Meteorology said.Damaging winds of about 65km/h, gusting up to 90km/h, were forecast to affect the coastal fringe of the Illawarra on Tuesday afternoon and evening, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
“We’re a bit concerned about localised flash flooding down [in the Illawarra] and some potential flash flooding,” an SES spokesman said.