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2009-12-28 04:55:29 - Flash Flood - Australia EDIS CODE: FF-20091228-24336-AUS
Date & Time: 2009-12-28 04:55:29 [UTC]
Area: Australia, State of New South Wales, Sydney suburbs, Damage level: Heavy (Level 3)
Not confirmed information! Description: Flood warnings have been issued for several rivers in northwestern NSW and on the state's north coast as a low pressure weather system continues to bring heavy rain. Unsealed roads in the northwest are closed and the SES is recommending that non-essential travel in the west of the state be delayed until conditions improve. The freight railway line near Gilgandra has been partially washed away by floodwaters, the SES says on its website. Flood warnings are current for the Castlereagh, Paroo, Culgoa/Bokhara, Hastings and Tweed rivers. The SES says the exact location and extent of the expected flooding can't be predicted and the situation will be reviewed on Tuesday morning. The Paroo River at Willara Crossing, 170km northwest of Bourke, reached its flood level on Monday morning and is still rising. The SES says the crossing may remain closed to all traffic for several weeks, with floodwaters from upstream expected to arrive later this week and cause the river to rise further. On the Castlereagh river in the central west, a minor to moderate flood warning is current at Coonamble, where the level is expected to peak on Monday night. Major flooding is expected at Kenebree, 40km northwest of Brewarrina, where the Culgoa river is still rising and expected to peak on Wednesday. The SES has received 224 requests for assistance across the state since Thursday afternoon. It has seven helicopters available for rescue, resupply and reconnaissance, based at Dubbo, Narrabri and Cobar. The Bureau of Meteorology says a low pressure trough extends from inland Queensland to the NSW south coast. A low has developed over northwestern NSW within this trough, and is drawing on warm humid air, generating rain across many districts. The low is expected to weaken later in the week, but the trough is expected to remain, bringing further rain and unsettled conditions to most of northeastern NSW. Over the past four days, there has been widespread rainfall of 50 to 100mm in the central west and northwest of the state, with 200mm at Gilgandra and isolated falls of 300 to 400mm at several rural properties in the northwest. Heavy rain in the Hastings River valley on the mid-north coast has eased considerably since midnight Sunday but minor flooding was expected at Wauchope on Monday afternoon. On the far north coast, an average of 64mm has fallen across the Tweed River valley on Monday and further heavy rain is expected to cause minor flooding at Murwillumbah later in the day. The SES has repeated its warning against walking, riding or driving through floodwaters.
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