Umina skatepark turned into ‘pool’ by weekend rainfall
Central Coast residents were rejoicing on the weekend over the best rain in months — but nobody was happier than the group of kids who got an impromptu swimming pool from the deluge.
Central Coast
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Central Coast farmers and gardeners were rejoicing on the weekend over the best rain in months — but nobody was happier than the group of kids who got an impromptu swimming pool from the deluge.
Umina Beach resident Renee Barker was on her way to Ocean Beach Surf Club on Sunday when she took a snap of a group of youths swimming in Umina Skate bowl which had filled to the brim with storm water.
“I was on my way to the Ocean Beach Surf Club for some afternoon sips on the deck and as I was walking past the skatepark these local kids looked like they were living their best life in the ‘skatebowl swimming pool’,” Ms Barker said.
“Nice way to celebrate the first day of Spring I thought,” she said.
Central Coast had some of the highest rainfall totals in the state at the weekend, including Gosford, which recorded 114mm in the 24 hours to 9am on Friday with a further 84mm falling in the next 24 hours.
This is the heaviest rainfall since June 2016 when just under 215mm fell in 48 hours.
The rainfall represents 20 per cent of all the rain Gosford has had so far this year.
The heavy rain has resulted in the only he second increase in total dam storage levels on the Central Coast since April 2017. There was a small increase in April this year after significant rain fell.
The level has now jumped from 53.38 to 54.91, staving off the introduction of water restrictions which kick in at 50 per cent.
While the rain was welcome, the Bureau of Meteorology’s general weather outlook for Spring is for warmer and drier than average conditions across Australia.
Bureau head of long-range forecasting Dr Andrew Watkins said the coming three months were unlikely to deliver significant widespread rainfall.
“Unfortunately, the outlook is not indicating an easing of conditions in drought areas,” Dr Watkins said.
“But a drier than average outlook is not an outlook for no rain at all. Significant rainfall events are always possible, so it’s important to keep a close eye on the seven-day forecast.”
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