FLOOD WARNINGS FOR NORTHERN NSW AS LONG WEEKEND TURNS INTO A WASHOUT

Northern rivers and mid north coast told to expect minor and flash flooding, with up to 200mm forecast to fall on sodden ground

Parts of northern New South Wales are being warned to expect further heavy rainfall and the possibility of floods over the public holiday weekend, with the outlook for the rest of the country clouded by the possibility of showers.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning for the northern rivers and parts of the mid north coast districts mid-morning on Sunday, with a low-pressure trough along the NSW north coast causing heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.

Up to 200mm of rain and flash flooding was forecast from Port Macquarie up to Lismore through to early next week, following two days of heavy and persistent rainfall. Forecasters said Lismore, Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Sawtell and Dorrigo could be affected.

Eight river valleys had been put on flood watch, and a minor warning issued for the Wilsons River, which had recorded up to 170mm of rainfall in the 48 hours to 5am Sunday. A further 10mm to 20mm was forecast in the coming day, with the river at Lismore on track to hit the minor flood level of 4.20m on Sunday afternoon.

Lismore, badly hit by floods brought on by Cyclone Debbie at the end of March, had already experienced more than 100mm of rain in the 24 hours to 9am Sunday.

We are starting to see water laying in low lying areas so please be careful when driving. As you can see, the drains in front of the square are quite full, please don't play in them! The water moves faster than you think and it's also full of all sorts of nasties.
As you can see, the river is also quite high, the second picture was take of Simes Bridge around 9am thismorning.

Be careful around floodwater and please - Don't be a floodwit!
#floodwit #NSWSES #Floodsafe

The State Emergency Service had warned residents in low-lying areas to be prepared for flooding. A spokeswoman told AAP on Sunday morning that it was a “watch and prepare situation”, with lower-level floodwaters starting to develop.

Andrew McPhee, the SES incident controller for the Richmond Tweed region, said in a Facebook broadcastthere was a “degree of uncertainty” about what the developing weather system would bring.

But given the potential of localised flash flooding, he encouraged residents of the affected areas to prepare for a worst-case scenario: “I want everyone to think about their preparation, to review their flood plan, and to be prepared to move if that is necessary.”

Anita Titmarsh, a duty forecaster for Bom, said the heaviest rainfall recorded in the 24 hours to 9am Sunday was in Tuckurimba, which received 156mm. In the same period, 124mm of rain fell in Evans Head, 109mm in Lismore, and 86mm in Coffs Harbour airport.

These totals had been more significant in the 24 hours to Saturday 9am, she said. “We do expect these rainfalls to continue to be moderate to heavy around the upper parts of the mid north coast and the northern rivers districts into the next few days.”

Further south, rainfall had been more modest, with only a few millimetres recorded in most of the Sydney area in the 24 hours to 9am. Sydney could expect showers for the first half of the week with a forecast high of 19C to 20C.

The outlook for much of the rest of the country was similar with cloud coverage and possible showers forecast for many major cities over the long weekend.

Perth’s outlook for partly cloudy for Sunday and Monday with a maximum of 24C to 25C respectively.

Showers were in store for Brisbane from Sunday through to Wednesday with maximum temperatures of 23C.

Adelaide’s forecast for Sunday was mostly sunny with a maximum of 17C. Though clouds would develop on Monday the max would remain 17C.

Melbourne was a touch colder with partial cloud coverage and a high of 17C on Sunday developing into showers over Monday, with a maximum temperature forecast of 15C.

Showers were possible late on Sunday and on Monday in Hobart, with a maximum temperature of 13C predicted for the public holiday.