Coffs Harbour weather: Flooding across Orara Valley with heavy rain falling

The Orara Valley is copping torrential rain and the SES has responded to several calls from across the region. See what the local publican had to say about it.

Torrential rain has been experienced overnight and is continuing throughout Wednesday causing flooding and catching several residents off guard.

Licensee at the Coramba Hotel, Jim Brewer said the floodwaters rising up from the Orara River on Martin Street opposite the pub are the highest he’s ever seen.

“There’s been some workers in today whose work’s been interrupted because of the rain but most people have basically stayed put,” Mr Brewer said.

“We have had someone stay here overnight who couldn’t get home and they might be washed out of their place again tonight,” he said.

Ian Horncastle SES Acting Unit Commander Coffs Harbour said the SES received two early morning call-outs to Nana Glen on Wednesday.

The first was between 5 and 5.30am on Orara Way Nana Glen with a vehicle stuck in flood waters and persons trapped inside the vehicle.

The second incident was a person trapped in floodwaters also on Orara Way.

The Brewer’s Road bridge in Nana Glen is completely under as the Orara River continues to rise with moderate to major flooding.

The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts the Orara River at the Glenreagh Automatic Gauge is likely to reach around 11.63 metres Wednesday afternoon with moderate flooding.

The Orara River at Glenreagh Bridge (manual flood gauge) may exceed the moderate flood level (7m) around 7.00am Wednesday. The river level may reach around 8.50 metres on Wednesday afternoon.