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The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) is warning residents on the Mid North Coast to prepare for severe weather in the form of heavy rain and damaging winds over the course of Thursday and Friday.
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A low pressure system over central-eastern Queensland and a high pressure system over the Tasman Sea are dragging a humid tropical air mass over parts of NSW as the remnants of ex-tropical cyclone Debbie collide with a large pool of moist air from the south.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a Flood Watch for coastal catchments between Gladstone in Queensland and Bellingen in northern New South Wales.
The Flood Watch extends inland to parts of the Central Highlands and Coalfields, Central West, Maranoa and Warrego, Darling Downs and Granite Belt forecast districts, as well as the far northern New South Wales ranges.
Significant rain has been recorded around the Mackay area over the past 48 hours, with over 1000mm at Mount William and Clarke Range in the Pioneer River Catchment – the average for the whole year is 1500-2500mm.
Thunderstorms have produced falls up to 150mm within two hours around Mackay, and the Bureau has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for the region. Further warnings are expected throughout the day.
Further 24 hour rainfall totals from 9am Tuesday 28 March to 9am Wednesday 29 March:
- Clarke Range: 646mm (Pioneer River basin)
- Mount William 568mm (Pioneer River basin)
- Undercliff: 544mm (Fitzroy River basin)
- Upper Finch Hatton: 396mm (Pioneer River basin)
- Eungella 221mm: (Pioneer River basin)
New South Wales Weather Services Manager, Jane Golding says, “this system is expected to impact the far northern NSW coast and adjacent ranges on Thursday and Friday, with very heavy rainfall and high winds that have the potential to cause riverine and flash flooding, bring trees down and cause property damage”.
“A Flood Watch has been issued for numerous northeastern NSW rivers. A Severe Weather Warning has been issued for rain and wind.”
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie is expected to continue tracking in a south-easterly direction during Thursday, bringing further heavy rain and potentially damaging winds. The system will then likely move into the Southern Coral Sea on Friday but is not expected to redevelop into a Tropical Cyclone, however, winds and waves are likely to increase over the south east coastal district.
Thursday: Cloudy. Very high (95%) chance of rain, with heavy falls possible. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds northerly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light before dawn then becoming north to northeasterly 25 to 35 km/h in the morning.
Friday: Cloudy. High (80%) chance of showers, most likely in the morning. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning. Winds northeasterly 20 to 25 km/h shifting southwesterly 30 to 45 km/h during the morning.
Saturday: Cloudy. Medium (40%) chance of showers. Winds southwesterly 30 to 35 km/h.
Sunday: Cloudy. Very high (90%) chance of showers. Winds south to southwesterly 30 to 35 km/h.
Monday: Cloudy. Very high (90%) chance of showers. Winds south to southwesterly 30 to 35 km/h.
