Central Coast flooding: Damaging winds and heavy surf conditions predicted

Dangerous winds and surf conditions are predicted across the coast on Wednesday as major flooding continues to impact Spencer and surrounding communities.

While the rain is easing, the region continues to be heavily impacted by floods with warnings of dangerous surf conditions and damaging wind gusts.

Major flooding continues for the Hawkesbury River, impacting Wiseman’s Ferry, Spencer and surrounding towns with evacuations carried out overnight.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has advised that the Hawkesbury River at Wisemans Ferry may reach around 5.10m on Wednesday morning.

Kariong Rural Fire Brigade alongside other Central Coast crews helped with the flood evacuation order in Spencer. Picture: Kariong Rural Fire Brigade

The BOM says that the east coast low is “well offshore” of the Illawarra coast however will bring damaging winds as it moves away from the NSW coast.

“Damaging wind gusts with peak gusts in excess of 90 km/h are possible about the coast and adjacent hinterland from northern parts of the South Coast district to southern parts of the Mid North Coast,” the warning read.

“Large and powerful waves may linger into Thursday along central parts of the coast, with a hazardous surf warning likely to be active, before easing.”

Minor flooding continues for Tuggerah Lake which was at 1.05m on Tuesday, however it is not expected to hit the moderate flood level of 1.3m.

School closures for the coast include Avoca Public School, Jilliby Public School, Macdonald Valley Public School and Wyong Creek Public School.

Hazardous surf is set to continue across the coast.

Central Coast Council has advised of a major landslip in Cedar Brush Creek, on Brush Creek Road between Yorkies Bridge and Murrays Run Road. There is currently no road access to Cedar Brush Creek.

The council has been responding to flood damage, repairing more than 4200 pot holes, fallen trees and other damage.

Earlier – March 9

Flood evacuation orders remain in place for Tuggerah Lakes despite receding lake levels.

Central Coast Council has stated that rainfall levels have been than predicted over the past few days.

“At 9:15am this morning, Tuggerah Lake at Long Jetty was recorded at 1.05m, with minor flooding currently occurring. Slight rises of lake level are anticipated to occur with every high tide, however the lake is expected to slowly fall over the coming days, and recede below the minor flood level (0.9m) on Thursday,” a council spokeswoman said.

Localised flooding in the Woy Woy town centre.

“At 8.15am today, the Hawkesbury River (at Wisemans Ferry) was recorded at 4.61m, which is above the major flood level (4.2m). Levels may reach around 4.70m around 1pm today on the high tide, with major flooding above the March 2021 event. Further rises are possible, and Council expects increased amounts of debris to pass through the Hawkesbury and arrive on Coast beaches over the coming days.”

Council indicated that The Entrance Channel has had “significant expansion” and has been progressively widened since February 28.

A 4.5m southerly swell is expected on Tuesday night.

Pollution alerts are in place for many beaches and lagoons across the coast.

The easterly swell is expected to rise to a 4.5m southerly swell later tonight and into Wednesday with all 15 beaches closed. Dangerous surf conditions and winds of up to 25km per hour remain along the Central Coast region.

“Significant erosion” has been reported at Soldiers Beach, North Entrance Beach and Lakes Beaches.

“There has been no observed or reported impact to private properties, including in The Entrance North or Wamberal, from coastal erosion impacts during this weather event,” the council spokeswoman said.

Pollution alerts are also in place for a number of Central Coast beaches

Earlier

Heavy rainfall is causing chaos on Central Coast roads as flood warnings remain in place.

A salvage operation is underway after a multi-vehicle crash on the M1 during the heavy downpour on Tuesday morning.

Just before 7am, a number of vehicles including two trucks collided near Ourimbah causing a B-double to roll just past the Peats Ridge exit.

A NSW Ambulance spokesman said five crews attended the scene and assessed three patients, with one classed as serious and two minor.

Two trucks including a B-double collided on the M1 near Ourimbah. Picture: NSW Rural Fire Service

Two people were taken to Gosford Hospital. Picture: NSW Rural Fire Service

He said two patients were taken to Gosford Hospital, including a male aged in his late teens with serious injuries.

Traffic remains heavy as the northbound lanes will have intermittent closures as the salvage operation continues throughout the morning.

Just before 9.30am, two NSW Ambulance crews responded to a second multi-vehicle crash in Bensville involving at least three cars. The accident occurred on Empire Bay Drive near Calool St.

Two people were taken to Gosford Hospital including a woman in her 40s with minor chest injuries. A man, aged in his 30s, sustained a foot injury.

It comes as flooding warnings remain in place across the Central Coast.

The Bureau of Meteorology stated that a “low pressure system is expected to deepen and develop into an East Coast Low near the Hunter Coast this morning and track south”.

Localised flooding has been impacting Point Clare.

“Beach conditions in these areas could be dangerous and people should stay well away from the surf and surf exposed areas”.

Major flooding warnings are in place for Hawkesbury River towns such as Wisemans Ferry and Spencer.

Tuggerah Lake at Long Jetty is currently at the minor flood level of 1.06m with a moderate warning as rain continues.

Broken Bay Water Police have issued a safety warning to local boat owners to take extreme caution, and avoid non essential boat travel, due to debris in the Hawkesbury River, Cowan Creek and Pittwater.

Broken Bay Water Police have issues safety warnings regarding floating debris. Picture: Marine Area Command – NSW Police

Items such as fridges and tyres are being removed from the water. Picture: Marine Area Command – NSW Police

They have found and retrieved fridges, tyres, whole trees and gas bottles.

A number of local schools remain closed including St Joeys Catholic College at East Gosford which as had “significant storm damage” according to principal Tony McCudden.

Over the past 24 hours Kariong has had 88mm of rainfall, East Gosford 78mm and Avoca 57mm.