South West Rocks: Torrential rain creates chaotic conditions for motorists along Mid-North Coast
Motorists have been stopped in their tracks by heavy hail and torrential rain along parts of the Mid-North Coast this afternoon. One woman said it was the worst she’s witnesses in 14 years. ‘I couldn’t see,” she said.
Mid-North Coast
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Torrential rain has caused chaotic conditions for motorists travelling along South West Rocks Rd this afternoon, with one witness counting dozens of cars, caravan trailers and four-wheel drives pulled over in the treacherous conditions that also brought hail.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of the Mid-North Coast just after 2pm this afternoon, at about the same time this reporter was driving along South West Rocks Rd when the hail and heavy winds swung in from the northwest.
Also in the area at the time was Kempsey resident Krystel Hand. Travelling on her way from Kempsey to South West Rocks, she said she only made it half way along South West Rocks Rd before being forced to pull over and turn around.
“I’ve lived here for 14 years and that is the worst storm and hail I have ever seen or driven in,” Ms Hand said.
“I was driving to South West Rocks and once I turned onto South West Rocks rd at Clybucca Way it was hailing, so I had to slow down to 60km/hr from 80km/hr.
“The further I got the faster and worse it came pouring down. I ended up having to slow right down to 20km/hr to be able to see the road and at that time I still couldn’t see.
“I saw at least 30 other cars, four-wheel drives and caravans. Some where parked under trees, there was traffic on the wrong side of the road and everyone had there hazard lights on.
“That’s when I saw half the road was flooded and I knew I couldn’t get my car through it.”
Kempsey SES media officer Greg Gill said emergency services had been tasked to four jobs over the last 24 hours, one of them was a call to a house at Temagog with a tree on its roof, the others were for two leaking roof jobs and a tree blocking access to a property.
The BOM is due to update its weather warnings again about 7:30pm this evening.
The current warnings are for hail, damaging winds and heavy rainfall for people in Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast and parts of Hunter and Northern Tablelands Forecast Districts.
Severe thunderstorms are likely to lead to flash flooding in the warning areas over the next several hours.
Affected locations include Lismore, Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Taree and Cessnock.
