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NSW weather: heavy rain and flooding as Sydney records wettest day of the year NSW weather: heavy rain and flooding as Sydney records wettest day of the year
(about 2 hours later)
Weather and flood warnings stretch from Sydney’s south to the state’s north-west, as elevated river levels, full dams and more rainfall pose risks to communitiesWeather and flood warnings stretch from Sydney’s south to the state’s north-west, as elevated river levels, full dams and more rainfall pose risks to communities
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Hundreds of New South Wales residents have made calls for help as heavy rainfall lashes the state, leaving huge swathes at risk of flooding, as Sydney experienced its wettest day of the year to date.Hundreds of New South Wales residents have made calls for help as heavy rainfall lashes the state, leaving huge swathes at risk of flooding, as Sydney experienced its wettest day of the year to date.
Bodies have been found in the search for two men missing after a car entered a river 20km north of Wisemans Ferry, on Sydney’s northern outskirts, on Wednesday night. NSW police said earlier heavy rainfall was affecting the multi-agency effort.Bodies have been found in the search for two men missing after a car entered a river 20km north of Wisemans Ferry, on Sydney’s northern outskirts, on Wednesday night. NSW police said earlier heavy rainfall was affecting the multi-agency effort.
Sydney Observatory Hill recorded 82mm in the 24 hours up to Thursday morning, more than the entire monthly average rainfall for August in a day, according to Weatherzone.Sydney Observatory Hill recorded 82mm in the 24 hours up to Thursday morning, more than the entire monthly average rainfall for August in a day, according to Weatherzone.
The weather forecast service also said it was the city’s wettest day of the year – and wettest August day since 2007.The weather forecast service also said it was the city’s wettest day of the year – and wettest August day since 2007.
The Bureau of Meteorology said it has already been Sydney’s wettest August since 1998, with 345.2 mm recorded as of 9am on Thursday morning. (The monthly total in 1998 was 482.6mm.)
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) had more than 30 warnings, including several “watch and act” alerts, in place for areas stretching from Sydney’s south up to the Central Coast, north coast, New England region and state’s north-west.The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) had more than 30 warnings, including several “watch and act” alerts, in place for areas stretching from Sydney’s south up to the Central Coast, north coast, New England region and state’s north-west.
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Debbie Platz, the deputy commissioner of NSW SES, said in an update on Thursday afternoon that the system was affecting “most of the east coast of NSW and into the north-west area of the state”. The deputy commissioner of the NSW SES, Debbie Platz, said in an update on Thursday afternoon that the system was affecting “most of the east coast of NSW and into the north-west area of the state”.
“We are starting now to see road closures across many parts of NSW, and these road closures are going to cause isolation to many communities,” she said. Flooding or adverse weather has caused hundreds of road incidents, according to the NSW government’s Live Traffic website.“We are starting now to see road closures across many parts of NSW, and these road closures are going to cause isolation to many communities,” she said. Flooding or adverse weather has caused hundreds of road incidents, according to the NSW government’s Live Traffic website.
The SES has responded to more than 500 incidents over the past 24 hours, including five flood rescues. A man was rescued at Douglas Park, south-west of Sydney, at about 6.30am in a multi-agency rescue, the NSW Rural Fire Service said in a social media post. The SES has responded to more than 760 callouts since Monday, with more than 400 over the past 24 hours – including six flood rescues – the agency said on Thursday afternoon. A man was rescued at Douglas Park, south-west of Sydney, at about 6.30am in a multi-agency effort, the NSW Rural Fire Service said in a social media post.
Platz said the man had been driving his van through flood waters when water reached the headlights of his vehicle.Platz said the man had been driving his van through flood waters when water reached the headlights of his vehicle.
The SES warned that there was a risk of flash flooding, given already elevated river levels, saturated soils and full dams from other recent significant rainfall. The bureau’s Angus Hines said Thursday would be “the last day” of significant rain across eastern parts of NSW but the effects of the flood could linger through Friday and into the weekend.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) hazard preparedness manager, Steve Bernasconi, said widespread, moderate rain and isolated thunderstorms would continue until 9am on Friday. Hines said the weather system which has brought rainfall was tracking eastwards towards the coast, and would move out over the sea in the early hours of Friday morning.
“The good news … is that the higher forecast totals that were forecast [on Wednesday] didn’t generally eventuate. There were a few exceptions, [including] Port Macquarie around Lake Cathie with 150 mm,” he said. A major flood warning is still in place for the Namoi River, while a moderate warning is in place for the Peel River, and minor warnings are in place for the Nepean and Barwon rivers. Hines said these rivers may not peak until the weekend, with Sydney, the Hunter and the Illawarra risking minor to moderate flooding in the next few days.
BoM senior meteorologist Helen Reid said the mid-north coast could receive isolated rainfall of up to 150mm on Thursday, with totals as high as 100mm in the northern rivers and 70mm in coastal Sydney. “Sometimes it just takes 12 to 24 to 36 hours for the wet weather to roll downhill and get into the river network.”
“[There are] plenty of rivers on the rise, so just keep an eye on them,” she said.
Reid said that although the month was not done, it appeared to be “the wettest one for quite some time”.
Reid said a coastal trough was “teaming up with a [section] of the upper atmosphere that is a little bit cooler and unstable” above central northern NSW.
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“That combination is helping a lot of moisture that’s fed in from tropical regions give us consistent rainfall across a broad area,” she said.
The BoM issued a major flood warning for the Namoi River. It set flood warnings as moderate for the Peel River and minor for the Nepean and Barwon rivers on the Queensland border.
Police were called to the Macdonald River at St Albans about 11.50pm on Wednesday, where they found a car had crashed into the water.Police were called to the Macdonald River at St Albans about 11.50pm on Wednesday, where they found a car had crashed into the water.
One passenger, a 24-year-old, managed to exit the vehicle and reach the riverbank, but two men were unaccounted for.One passenger, a 24-year-old, managed to exit the vehicle and reach the riverbank, but two men were unaccounted for.
In a statement on Thursday afternoon, NSW police said divers had located a vehicle about 11.20am.In a statement on Thursday afternoon, NSW police said divers had located a vehicle about 11.20am.
“A further search resulted in police divers locating two bodies in the water,” the statement said. The bodies are yet to be formally identified.“A further search resulted in police divers locating two bodies in the water,” the statement said. The bodies are yet to be formally identified.
Hawkesbury police Insp Claudette Gebrael said police believed the trio were a father and two sons.Hawkesbury police Insp Claudette Gebrael said police believed the trio were a father and two sons.
“[The car] may have hit a tree to start with and then entered the water,” she said.“[The car] may have hit a tree to start with and then entered the water,” she said.
The increased flood risk follows several major rainfall events this year, including floods in May, which devastated the mid-north coast and Hunter Valley, claiming the lives of five people. On Thursday, the NSW and federal governments announced a $50m housing support package for people affected by the May floods. The increased flood risk follows several major rainfall events this year, including floods in May, which devastated the mid-north coast and Hunter Valley, claiming the lives of five people. On Thursday, the NSW and federal governments announced a $50m housing support package for people affected by the May floods.
with AAPwith AAP