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SES flood rescue team members inspect floodwaters flowing over the New Windsor Bridge at Windsor in north western Sydney on 23 March, 2021.

SES flood rescue team members inspect floodwaters flowing over the New Windsor Bridge at Windsor in north western Sydney on 23 March, 2021. Source: AAP

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RECAP: 'Dangerous' NSW flood risk to continue, even with blue skies on the horizon

Some 18,000 NSW residents have already been evacuated from their homes to escape rising floodwaters, while another 15,000 have been put on high alert as two "catastrophic" weather fronts roll across the state.

SES flood rescue team members inspect floodwaters flowing over the New Windsor Bridge at Windsor in north western Sydney on 23 March, 2021.

SES flood rescue team members inspect floodwaters flowing over the New Windsor Bridge at Windsor in north western Sydney on 23 March, 2021. Source: AAP

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Looking ahead: an 'emerging' risk for eastern Victoria, Tasmania
The Bureau of Meteorology has provided another update this afternoon, looking ahead at rainfall and flooding risk across the east coast. 

It says while heavy rainfall and flooding continues across NSW and Queensland, there is an emerging risk for eastern Victoria and eastern Tasmania. 

"The flooding risk in NSW and Queensland is still high, with several flood warnings issued across the east coast," the spokesman said. 

He said a large band of severe weather currently stretches from Brisbane to Hobart, with 10 million Aussies under threat of heavy rainfall. 

"The coastal trough in Queensland and NSW is finally on the move, with a coastal low forming south of Sydney, providing two short term focuses: one in north-east NSW and south-east Queensland, the other along the south coast of NSW," he said. 

"To the relief of many, this stubborn weather system finally clears NSW and Queensland on Wednesday, leaving them relatively weather-free."

That coastal low with move into the eastern Bass Strait tomorrow, shifting focus to the south. 

"Unfortunately, very heavy rainfall is forecast for exposed and elevated areas of eastern Bass Strait and eastern Tasmania," he said. 

Warnings are current for heavy rainfall and damaging winds, along with hazardous surf in Tasmania. 

The trough will move off into the Tasman Sea later on Thursday.  

Severe weather warning for NSW's North West Slopes and Plains
The weather bureau has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the North West Slopes and Plains, as storms intensify in the region. 

As we've heard throughout the day, a rainband that has been moving across the country is now bringing rainfall and flood risk to inland parts of NSW, while conditions in coastal areas are set to ease. 

The warning says heavy rain and damaging winds are possible over the coming hours that may lead to flash flooding in areas such as Moree, Warialda, Boggabilia, Ashford and Bingara. 

In response, the NSW SES has issued a flood evacuation warning for low-lying properties in Moree due to possible major flooding. 

Liz realised she couldn't save parts of her home. So she decided to help others
My colleague, Jennifer Scherer, reports from Stuarts Point near Kempsey on the Mid North Coast: 

For Liz Jerome in Stuarts Point near Kempsey on the NSW Mid North coast, the water rose faster than expected. She says she is devastated.

When she realised she couldn’t save parts of her house, she decided to try and help others in her community.

Coles to start flying supplies into flood-affected North Richmond, David Littleproud says
David Littleproud, the Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, has announced the federal government has begun working with local supermarkets to address shortages in flood-affected areas, such as North Richmond. 

"I can advise the house, I have only just been advised by Coles, that they intend to helicopter goods into North Richmond’s store this afternoon, as soon as arrangements can be made," he said during question time. 

"We will continue to make sure that mechanism is worked through in every community where there are shortages, where we are unable to get trucks or boats across to support these communities in their hour of need."

He said the "national coordination mechanism" was initiated due to feedback from NSW Senator and government minister Marise Payne and Labor MP for Macquarie Susan Templeman. 

Eight greyhounds and a fox terrier rescued from floodwaters
In some happier news for your afternoon, NSW Police has shared photos of officers rescuing eight greyhounds and a fox terrier from a home inundated by floodwaters. 

In a tweet, it said all animals and occupants were safely evacuated from the home on the Mid North Coast on Sunday, thanks to assistance from the NSW State Emergency Service (SES). 

 

River levels will remain high 'for the next few days' despite clearer skies
The weather bureau's hydrologist, Victoria Dodds, reiterated that the flood risk will remain despite sunnier conditions being forecast for parts of NSW. 

"Currently, we have flood watches and flood warnings enforced from the Queensland border all the way down the east coast to Victoria," she said. 

"We also have a developing flood situation in inland NSW. My colleagues here in Sydney… have never seen anything like it."

She said while the Nepean region may have clearer skies from this afternoon, river levels will remain high for the next few days and won't improve until the end of the week. 

"On the east coast catchments, once that rain clears, conditions should improve over the next few days," she said.

"But certainly, inland, the river levels are only just starting to rise. That is where we will see the levels continue to rise and work their way through the interior over the coming weeks."

Ms Dodds urged residents to "stay vigilant, keep up-to-date with the latest warnings from the bureau and follow the advice of SES". 

Blue skies and sunshine for Sydney, Mid North Coast this afternoon
Ms Imielska said the weather system is "moving quickly" and "we're seeing a clearing trend behind that". 

"It is almost impossible to believe, but we will see blue skies and sunshine just later this afternoon in western Sydney and on the Mid North Coast," she said.

"Now, it is very important to remember that even though we will have that blue sky and sunshine returning, flooding will continue, and the flood risk will continue.

'We also have warnings for damaging winds. And with everything so saturated, it really won't take much to be bringing down potentially trees which can block roads, take down power lines.

"So, it is really important to be aware of not just the flood risk, which is very much focused, but also those dangerous conditions on the road."

What makes this a 'particularly unusual and dangerous' weather event
Senior meteorologist Agata Imielska explained what makes this weather event "particularly unusual and very dangerous". 

"... we have seen heavy rainfall and flooding occurring at the same time. We have flooding happening right now, and heavy rainfall, continuing over the last week. This makes it particularly unusual and very dangerous situation that is still very much with us," she said. 

She said that rain band is now moving across the state and bringing rainfall over inland parts of NSW, with some areas of the North West Slopes and Plains region copping around 200mm.  

"That is four times the monthly average falling in just 24 hours," Ms Imielska said. 

As that rain band moves across the state, a low pressure system will be tracking towards the South Coast, bringing heavy rainfall and a risk of flooding in that region. 

"The system is moving quickly, and we are seeing a clearing trend behind that," she said. 

'We are not out of the woods yet,' weather bureau says
The weather bureau is providing an update as "dangerous conditions" remain for parts of NSW on the east coast, along with inland parts of the state. 

Senior meteorologist Agata Imielska said heavy rain continues to fall on the Mid-North Coast in particular, where a couple of locations have recorded over one metre of rainfall.

"Putting that into context, that is two thirds of annual rainfall falling in the space of one week," she said. 

"We are not out of the woods yet, it still seems that heavy rainfall [is] coming through, and very much with that flood risk we are still experiencing." 

Watch: The Bureau of Meteorology is providing an update
The Bureau of Meteorology is about to provide an update - we'll bring you the latest developments shortly. 

You can watch along here: 



Tuesday, in pictures
SES flood rescue team members inspect floodwaters flowing over the New Windsor Bridge at Windsor in north western Sydney on 23 March, 2021.
SES flood rescue team members inspect floodwaters flowing over the New Windsor Bridge at Windsor in north western Sydney on 23 March, 2021. Source: AAP


A flooded street in Port Macquarie, NSW, on 23 March, 2021.
A flooded street in Port Macquarie, NSW, on 23 March, 2021. Source: AAP


Residents begin cleaning up at Settlement Point in Port Macquarie, NSW, on 23 March, 2021.
Residents begin cleaning up at Settlement Point in Port Macquarie, NSW, on 23 March, 2021. Source: AAP


Resident Shaun Ratko at his home in Port Macquarie, NSW, Tuesday, March 23, 2021.
Resident Shaun Ratko at his home in Port Macquarie, NSW, Tuesday, March 23, 2021. Source: AAP


'When we say - if it's flooded, forget it - we mean it'
Queensland's transport department has uploaded a video that it says everyone needs to see - and believe. 

The video, posted on Twitter, shows a vehicle being swept off a road and into surging floodwaters. No further details are provided, but it has been reported the driver made it out of the vehicle before it was taken by the current. 

"You need to see this. And believe it," Transport and Main Roads Queensland said in a subsequent post. 

"When we say #IfitsFloodedForgetIt we mean it.

"There are flood warnings in parts of Queensland and the possibility of flash flooding and landslides remains high. With a lot of roads already closed, our best advice is to stay home if you can. If you need to go out, make sure you've got a #PlanB, and if you're faced with floodwaters, just #BackItUp."

What's happening in Victoria? And Tasmania?
Meanwhile, a severe weather warning is in place for damaging winds and heavy rain developing in parts of southern Victoria this afternoon and into tomorrow morning as the deepening low pressure system moves south-east across NSW.

This includes parts of Central, East Gippsland and West and South Gippsland districts. 

Damaging winds with peak gusts of 90 to 100 km/h are expected to develop, with heavy rainfall possibly leading to flash flooding in parts of the warning area. 

Even Tasmania is not immune. After developing over the south-eastern mainland today, the damaging low is expected to move close to the north-east Tasmanian coast tomorrow, bringing strong winds and heavy rain. 

A severe weather warning has been issued for eastern parts of the state. 

Major flood warning in place for south-east Queensland
As we've heard, flood and weather warnings have been issued across the country, from south-east Queensland to the Victorian border. 

In Queensland, a rainband is bringing heavy rainfall to the state's south and south-east throughout today and into the night, the weather bureau says. 

A major flood warning is in place for the Logan River, with major flooding expected at Beaudesert in the Scenic Rim region, and moderate flooding for the Albert River. You can find out more information on this warning here.

New flood evacuation warning along the Hawkesbury River
The NSW SES has issued a new evacuation warning for caravan parks along the Hawkesbury River.

It says the warning area covers all parks along the river from Windsor to Wiseman's Ferry, north-west of Sydney, due to major flooding.  

A subsequent flood warning is now in place for Wollombi Brook at Bulga where major flooding is also occurring, and river levels continue to rise. 

More large amounts of rainfall across NSW
NSW has again seen large amounts of rain fall in the 24 hours to 9am today, including 150mm at Moree.

The red dots show areas where there has been more than 100mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours, which are mainly confined to the state's north. 

ADF assisting with evacuations, PM says
Mr Morrison said the NSW government has requested assistance from two helicopters being used to help with rescues between the areas of Richmond and Colo. 

A request from the state government that would see between 500 and 1,000 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel assist with clean up efforts is currently being assessed. 

"The [NSW] premier and I discussed this this morning. I am expecting a request to come in shortly," he said. "We want it to be done swiftly and effectively to try and get these communities back on their feet as quickly as we possibly can." 

Mr Morrison said he has been advised 9,000 insurance claims have been received to date. 

"Impact assessments have not been completed in all areas but several hundred homes have been flooded, roads damaged, wildlife lost, telecommunications and power outages across the flooded areas have been reported. Telcos and power companies are standing by to re-establish power and communications," he said. 

"No lives to this point have been lost thankfully, we pray that will continue to be the situation."

Scott Morrison says flood situation remains 'dynamic and extremely complex'
Prime Minister Scott Morrison gave a press conference a short time ago, where he started by discussing the rain and flood situation. 

"We advise that the rain and flood situation does remain dynamic and extremely complex," he told reporters.

"This is a complex waiver event and becoming more complex ... 100mm is forecast across associated catchments today and flood and severe weather warnings have been issued across the country, stemming from South East Queensland to the Victorian border.

"A trough on the east coast has merged with a trough extending from the Kimberley is to the east coast causing heavy rain and inland flooding. This is moving to not just being a coastal event."

Mr Morrison said 1,700 SES volunteers have responded to this event, supported by the NSW Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue services. He reiterated 18,000 people have so far been affected by 16 evacuation orders across 24 locations. A further 20 evacuation warnings are in place, with 18 evacuation centres operating, he said. 

"I note that those evacuation centres in the Sydney metropolitan area have not been used to the extent NNSW thought they may. People have largely been able to be supported in their own homes and [by] the evacuation process in NSW, and support for those individuals has been working extremely well," he said. 

"I commend both those who are directly impacted and those who are helping them in their time of need." 

A look at Tuesday's weather warnings
Here's a visual summary of today's warnings from the weather bureau. 

As you can see, severe weather warnings - shown in yellow - extend over half of NSW, while multicoloured areas show flood warnings and flood advices. 

We'll have more on the weather warnings extending beyond NSW later. For now, you can check the warnings in your local area here: 

 

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