BOM issues severe storm and flood warning for regional NSW

NSW’s regional residents are on alert for severe thunderstorms and possible flash flooding from Friday afternoon, with damaging winds and heavy rain on the way for the state’s south and west.

Regional NSW is bracing for severe thunderstorms and flash flooding, with wild weather set to hit rural areas into the weekend.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued several severe weather warnings for the state’s south, with weather conditions set to deteriorate from Friday evening.

A damaging wind and heavy rainfall warning is in place for residents of the Central West Slopes and Plains, South West Slopes, Riverina and Lower Western areas for Friday evening, with Wagga Wagga, Albury, West Wyalong, Tumbarumba, Griffith and Narrandera expected to be hit.

âš¡SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGâš¡ For DAMAGING WINDS and HEAVY FALLS which may lead to FLASH FLOODING through the southern inland. Storms currently tracking east towards Albury.
⚠️Warnings: https://t.co/GmBuxkraUg
📡Radar: https://t.co/BjFBo90o6N pic.twitter.com/aVNh0ZARMF

— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) February 5, 2021

The Snowy Mountains and South West Slopes also received a damaging wind warning from Friday afternoon, with BOM meteorologist Helen Kirkup warning winds could reach 120km/h at higher elevations including Perisher Valley, Charlotte Pass, Thredbo, Cabramurra, Selwyn and Khancoban.

She said “widespread thunderstorms” were expected in NSW’s southernmost regions.

“We’ve got a front crossing the south of the state, bringing very strong winds … we’re likely to see gusts between 60 and 70km/h up to 90km/h on Friday, but into Saturday places about 1900 metres will see 70 to 80km/h up to 120km/h winds,” Ms Kirkup said.

“We may see quite heavy rainfall in isolated places … these thunderstorms may bring intense bursts of rainfall, particularly in the Riverina and South West Slopes we’re expecting widespread storms.”

“Damaging wind gusts, heavy rainfall and large hail are all possible.”

Flood warnings have been issued for parts of NSW. Picture: Cameron Bates

The potential for severe thunderstorms has prompted flood warnings for the state’s South West and Central West catchment.

Ms Kirkup said several were rivers in danger of minor to moderate flooding from Saturday and into Sunday.

“Thunderstorms during late Friday and into Saturday may affect river catchments … as such we have issued flood watch for the Bell, Belubula, Tumut and Upper Murray rivers,” she said.

The systems are tipped to move eastward as the weekend passes, with the eastern half of the state set to see widespread thunderstorms around metro areas from late Saturday.

“Some of these thunderstorms may become severe, not all but some of these could have intense rainfall, which could lead to flash flooding and damaging winds,” Ms Kirkup said.

Further storms could develop during Sunday in NSW’s west.