Grafton weather: Roads closed, Yamba cut off as Clarence River floods

At Ulmarra, flood waters have broken over the levee inundating homes and shops, while towns across the Clarence including Yamba are isolated. See road closures and what the weather is doing.

Water laps at the levee bank on the Pacific Highway at Maclean on Tuesday afternoon. Picture: Newcastle SES

Flood waters are lapping at town levees and roads are crumbling under the pressure of flood waters across the Clarence region.

Some towns like the popular tourist destination of Yamba, are isolated.

Flooding has topped the town levee at Ulmarra with homes and shops inundated on Tuesday afternoon.

Flooding at Ulmarra. Picture: Chelsey Graham

And, from Tuesday March 1, it looks like more rain is on the way with eastern NSW is in for an absolute drenching.

Over over the next seven days, all districts south of the Northern Rivers could potentially pick up another 200 to 300mm with isolated falls upwards of 500 to 600mm possible.

Heavy rain is predicted for the seven days from Tuesday for areas south of the Northern Rivers.

Roads closed - On Tuesday morning, at the West Ballina to Glenugie section of the Pacific Highway, the road was closed in both directions between River St and Big River Way.

There was water on the road at various locations including Carrs Drive, Shores Drive and at the Yamba Rd/Angourie Rd round-a-bout leading into Yamba cutting off access to the popular holiday town on Tuesday.

The north coast town of Yamba has been cut off by rising floodwaters on March 1 2022. Picture: Tracy Hobbs/Yamba Notice Board https://www.facebook.com/groups/625381704703048

The Summerland Way from Casino to Grafton was still closed on Tuesday morning and landslides along the Gwydir Highway between Bald Knob Rd and Tindal Rd also causing havoc.

At Clarenza The Big River Way between Centenary Drive and Summerland Way was also still closed.

Maclean levee almost under on Tuesday afternoon, March 1. Picture: Newcastle SES.

Summerland Way (New Grafton Bridge) between Big River Way and Clarence Street is closed in both directions with motorists asked to use the Old Grafton Bridge.

Big River Way between Centenary Drive and Charles Street was also closed on Tuesday morning with Old Lilypool Rd, Lilypool Rd and Armidale Rd suitable diversions for all vehicles.

Roads closed and crumbling across the Clarence. From left: flooding at Ulmurra on Tuesday morning (picture:Chelsey Graham) Water over Rushworth Road heading into Coutts crossing (picture: Sharn Domatas) and badly damaged Rocky Creek Bridge on Coaldale Road (Picture: Jaiden Mannell)

At Tyndale the Big River Way was still closed in both directions between Coldstream Road and Lower Coldstream Road on Tuesday morning

Major flooding

Major flooding was occurring at Grafton, Ulmarra and Maclean on Tuesday with a number of levees under threat.

There is a level of uncertainty as to how the changing tides will combine with the swollen rivers.

Grafton - The Clarence River at Prince St peaked around 7.66 metres at 1am Tuesday (below the Grafton levee at 7.95 metres) with major flooding and on Tuesday afternoon around 1pm it was at 7.47 metres and falling slowly, with major flooding.

Mates helping mates at Grafton on Tuesday morning, March 1.

Ulmarra - At around 1pm on Tuesday the Clarence River at Ulmarra was at 5.99 metres and steady around its peak with major flooding, slightly above the levee level (5.90 metres).

Maclean - At around 1pm on Tuesday The Clarence River at Maclean was at 3.30 metres, peaking near the town levee level (3.30 metres), with major flooding.

A flood evacuation centre has been set up at Grafton Racecourse – Powell Street.

On Monday afternoon Jaiden Mannell took photos of the badly damaged Rocky Creek Bridge on Coaldale Road. Picture: Jaiden Mannell

Residents on edge

On Monday Grafton residents were “desperately packing up” as major flooding impacted the region.

Aleida Wallis said the situation was “pretty shocking to be honest” with major flooding occurring at Grafton, Ulmarra and Maclean.

Grafton Shoppingworld‘s underground parking lot was completely inundated with floodwaters on Monday morning.

Ms Wallis said residents are starting to fear for their safety.

“There are roads underwater here. Some people are starting to get worried.

“If the catchments keep rising like they are then it has the potential to be bad,” she said.

“I’m packing up for safety,” she said.

Mrs Wallis lives near the Clarence River and has been keeping a close eye on the situation.

Aleida Wallis at Through Street.

“I can see it coming step by step,” she said.

Residents are fearing flood water in farmlands has built up.

“Our concern is what’s coming up behind us,” she said.

Grafton residents are urged to look out for evacuation warnings and to call 000 if they are in trouble.

Like a ‘rain bomb’

The big wet comes after a “rain bomb” that dumped more than 220mm of rain over Brisbane in the 24 hours to Saturday morning caused flooding across the Clarence.

On Sunday afternoon Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said nobody expected the “rain bomb” to be sitting over south east Queensland for so long.

Devastation to the north

With the catchment already saturated and heavy rainfall causing flooding on Friday and Saturday, the severe weather warning had communities on high alert.

To the north communities have been evacuated and in Lismore floodwaters smashed 70-year records by more than a metre.

Over the weekend there was a number of flood-related rescues in the region including a man isolated by flood waters who had been bitten by a spider - believed to be a funnel-web.