Author Topic: Flood crisis worsens through NSW 2nd March 2012 (Read 5946 times)

JennyLeez · « **on:** March 02, 2012, 10:27:00 AM »

The flood crisis continues to worsen through NSW with another 3 days of heavy rain still ahead.

So far this week most of southern and western NSW has already picked up well over 100mm of rain including by 6am Friday 248mm at Perisher Valley, 184mm At Merimbula, 182mm at Bega, 190mm at Albury and 177mm at Tuggerenong.

The rain has triggered a major flood warning for the Queanbeyan, Lachlan and Macquarie river valleys and a moderate flood warning for the Murrumbidgee river.

This unprecedented rain event is the result of a near stationary trough of low pressure which has oscillated north and south through the week. The heaviest rain today will fall over northwest and central NSW but the trough will slip south again on Saturday and spread heavy rain back to southern regions. On Sunday the trough will again head north, causing the heaviest rain to move back to central regions.

Between now and Sunday night most western, central and southern districts will see another 100mm of rain but many regions through the central west will see over 150mm.

The Warragamba Dam is certain to spill with the level hitting 95% by 8pm Thursday night.

The rainband will finally weaken and contract to northeast NSW on Monday.

Tom Saunders
Senior Meteorologist
The Weather Channel

Almost 1700 people have been forced to leave their homes in NSW, as 75 per cent of the state is under water.

JennyLeez · « **Reply #1 on:** March 03, 2012, 02:36:46 PM »

Update:
Australian flooding

Heavy rain is forecast to put more pressure on already swollen rivers and create further pain for flooded towns across New South Wales and Victoria.

A severe weather warning has been issued for flash flooding in large parts of New South Wales' south and west as well as heavy rainfall warnings in Victoria's north-east and Gippsland regions.

Yesterday the NSW central west city of Bathurst was cut in two by flooding and the Macquarie River covered the Great Western Highway, cutting the major link between Sydney and the west.

WeatherWatch.co.nz, Bloomberg and Weatherzone