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Australia rain bomb: Flooding, wind and torrential rain to wreak havoc across east coast
Australia’s east coast is set to endure a hellish week as a powerful weather system brings heavy rainfall, flooding and winds ‘strong enough to bring down power lines’.
The low pressure system drenched the Gold Coast, Central Coast and Sydney on Sunday with some parts of the NSW capital copping more than 100mm of rain.
Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne are all experiencing rain as the system moves down the NSW South Coast towards Victoria on Monday. On top of the wet weather, the NSW capital is also experiencing gale force winds of up to 60kmh.
BOM Meteorologist Grace Legge said the system will continue to have dangerous consequences with severe weather warnings in place for NSW, ACT and Victoria.
‘From Monday we will likely see locally damaging winds strong enough to bring down trees and power lines with the main area of concern along the coast south of Taree and severe weather warnings are current,’ Ms Legge said.
Rainfall adds to the already flooded streets (pictured) of Newcastle, NSW with the rising waters completely flooding a Bottlemart store (left) on Sunday
‘The heavier rain fall is forecast to shift to the Illawarra and South Coast and possibly far east Gippsland and Victoria with a flood watch already out for some catchments and the potential for river rises along coastal parts.
‘Thunder storms embedded in the system may produce locally heavy falls leading to flash flooding.’
Up to 35mm of rain is expected in Sydney on Monday with moderate gale force winds of up to 60kmh expected for Monday night.
The Sydney CBD has already experienced 85mm rain in the last 24 hours with Turramurra in the Upper North Shore receiving the most in the city at 115mm.
There is currently a severe weather warning in place for Sydney and the NSW coast from Newcastle down to Eden.
Motorists are advised to park their cars under cover and away from trees, not to attempt to drive through flood water and avoid fallen trees or power lines.
On Tuesday, up to 15mm more rain is expected with gusty southwesterly winds of up to 40kmh.
Relief for Sydneysiders will finally come on Wednesday, when the wet weather will be replaced with mostly sunny skies – although southwesterly winds of up to 20kmh will remain with a slight chance of rain returning on Thursday.
Australia’s east coast is being slammed by wild weather sparked by a second strong low-pressure system in as many weeks. Above, a normally empty stormwater channel in Newcastle, north of Sydney, on Sunday
A couple huddles under an umbrella on Sunday as Sydney experienced 85mm of rain
NSW skiers are rejoicing at up to 20mm of snow in Thredbo on Monday, although strong gale force winds of up to 75kmh make conditions quite hostile.
A severe weather warning for ‘damaging winds’ has been issued for the Snowy Mountains, which could cause trees to fall over.
More snow is expected on Tuesday with wind expected to decrease to 20kmh in the evening.
Perisher, however, is experiencing normal rain with snow only falling above 1,700m. In addition, the alpine region is also being lashed with winds of up to 75kmh.
Canberra will be lashed with up to 25mm of rain on Monday with strong winds of up to 35kmh. The rain will ease of to just 2mm on Tuesday with wind persisting.
The wet weather will be replaced by the Australian capital’s usual frosty weather from Wednesday, with the minimum temperature hovering around zero.
While Sydney is experiencing torrential downpours, Melbourne only has light showers on Monday with just 2mm expected.
Melburnians in lockdown will likely be rugging up in their homes with a minimum of 8C and maximum of 15C on Tuesday. The minimum will drop to 6C on Wednesday.
There will be a slight chance of showers throughout the rest of the week with mostly sunny skies and some cloud forecasted.
Victoria’s alpine regions are experiencing blizzards with Mount Hotham receiving fresh snowfall and gale force winds of up to 70kmh.
Meanwhile, Mount Buller has snow showers and winds up to 60kmh while Falls Creek also has snow and winds of up to 65kmh.
A mask-wearing woman shelters under an umbrella as she makes her way through Sydney
Residents experienced flash flooding in Mullumbimby, Coffs Harbour and Newcastle over the weekend.
A busload of ten children were rescued by SES volunteers on an inflatable boat at the University of Newcastle at Callaghan on Sunday night, with four other drivers in the city winched from their cars in rapidly rising waters.
A severe weather warning for damaging winds, heavy rainfall and damaging surf has been issued by the Bureau of Meteorology for the metropolitan, Illawarra, south coast, Hunter, central tablelands and southern tablelands forecast districts.
‘Wind and rain are not the only concern with large and powerful waves forecast for Monday and Tuesday. This may result in hazardous beach conditions with very heavy surf and coastal erosion especially for south facing surf zones,’ Ms Legge said.
‘This included the vulnerable Central Coast which suffered significant erosion last week associated with the recent Tasman low. Hazardous surf conditions are likely to ease from later Wednesday as the system pulls away from the coast.’
More than 150 bags of rocks have been lined on the shore at Wamberal after 54 residents were told to leave their homes due to safety concerns as the beach was torn away by the powerful surf conditions.
The south-east swell is set to peak at more than five metres on Tuesday, leaving residents hopeful they will prevent further damage to the coastline.
‘I try not to be dominated by fear, I try to be optimistic and cross our fingers that what we have done is enough,’ Wamberal resident Margaret Brice told SMH.
Wamberal Beach is closed at the sites with significant erosion, where asbestos was found strewn on the beach from underneath one of the houses.
Source: Daily Mail Australia | News Colony
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