South Coast floods: Schools closed, emergency warnings issued as wild weather lashes coast
The Illawarra and South Coast have been sent into chaos, as flash flooding sends roads, caravan parks and schools underwater. Get the latest on the wild weather here.
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Residents on the NSW south coast are bracing for heavy rainfall and flash flooding as the weekend’s horror storm moves south.
Schools across the Illawarra have been closed, creeks and lakes have broken their banks and trees have fallen right across the rain, after heavy rain and strong winds lashed the coast overnight.
The Bureau of Meteorology is warning of life-threatening flash flooding, heavy rain and gusty winds of up to 90km/h in the Illawarra, south coast and Southern Tablelands for Monday morning.
Overnight, the State Emergency Services (SES) issued an emergency warning alert for low-lying areas around the Lake Illawarra foreshore, after the lake broke its banks and inundated Oaklands Caravan Park, Jettys Caravan park, Oasis Resort and South Pacific Village.
By Monday morning, another emergency alert had been issued for Lake Conjola, which also broke its banks.
People in low-lying areas around the lake have been urged to enact their flood emergency plans and evacuate to the Ulladulla Civic Centre before it’s too late.
As of early this morning, Shoalhaven Council has begun digging a channel to the sea at Shoalhaven Heads and Lake Conjola, after water levels rose to dangerous points.
The water level at Nowra Boat Shed at the Shoalhaven River by 5.47am on February 10 reached 3m AHD, the emergency level, while the water level at Lake Conjola at 3.08am this morning reached 1.31m AHD, also an emergency level.
People are requested to stay outside the work area and keep away from the edges of the dug channel and eroding banks following its opening as these areas are very unstable and unsafe.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, an incredible 397mm of rain had fallen at Robertson to 6am this morning, taking the town’s total since Thursday to more than 700mm.
The overnight deluge made Robertson the most rain-drenched place in the state in the 24 hours since 9am yesterday. The rain was a welcome sight for locals, after fire-ravaged parts of the picturesque town last month.
More than 300mm has fallen over the weather stations at Albion Park Airport and Bellambi over the same period, with flash flooding seen in the Albion Park area in particular overnight.
A warning for hazardous surf conditions, high tides and waves of up to five metres is also in place along the state’s east coast.
SCHOOL CLOSURES:
– Albion Park High School
– Albion Park Public School
– Calderwood Christian School, Calderwood
– St Joseph’s Catholic High School, Albion Park
– St Paul’s Catholic Primary School, Albion Park
– Dapto High School
– Dapto Public School
– Windang Public School
ROAD CLOSURES, PUBLIC TRANSPORT INFO:
There are currently delays on all train lines, with some operating at limited capacity:
– T1 North Shore and Western Line – reduced frequency due to a landslip at Artarmon
– T7 Olympic Park Line – a limited bus service is operating between Lidcombe and Olympic Park
– Sydney Metro – buses are replacing metro services between Chatswood and Macquarie Park; citybound passengers should change at Epping for a T9 Northern Line train
– Blue Mountains, south coast and Central Coast & Newcastle Lines – buses are operating a limited replacement service in some locations due to signal equipment and track damage
– Southern Highlands Line – a limited bus service is operating between Goulburn and Campbelltown due to infrastructure damage
The Princes Highway has reopened between Nowra and Berry after closing earlier this morning due to flooding, however the Illawarra Highway remains closed at Albion Park Rail and Macquarie Pass.
A number of other roads around the state remain closed due to flooding including Illawarra Highway, Macquarie Pass and Albion Park Rail and Old Port Rd, Port Kembla
Residents are reminded that anyone needing assistance should contact the SES on 132 500.