NSW set to cop a month’s worth of rain in one day due to thunderstorms

NSW residents are being urged to act quickly or risk being isolated as severe thunderstorms bring warnings of flash flooding, damaging winds, and hail.

NSW residents are being urged to act quickly on emergency warnings or risk being cut off from the outside world as severe thunderstorms sweep across the state and ravage “flood weary” communities.

The Bureau of Meteorology warned severe thunderstorms forecast for Sunday could deliver heavy rain, damaging winds, and hail across much of NSW.

In areas where the soil is already saturated and river levels are already high, experts say there is a high risk of flash flooding.

More than 70mm of rain is expected to drench some areas of the state after a night of heavy downpours.

Inland NSW will cop a month’s worth of rain in a single day on Sunday, according to meteorologists at Sky News Australia.

Wild weather and storms set to hit Australia's south and east. Picture: Sky News Weather

The southern NSW town Wagga Wagga had 75mm of rain in the 24 hours to 10am Sunday morning, with 63mm falling within a single hour.

Grafton, on the NSW north coast, received 61mm of rain overnight, including 54mm in one hour while the town was buffeted by winds of up to 92 km/hr.

A small town near Singleton was soaked by 41mm of rainfall in just 30 minutes during a “significant rain event”, a Bureau of Meteorology spokesperson noted.

New South Wales Emergency Services Minister Steph Cook said flooded communities in western NSW would need to be on high alert for potential flash floods.

“Once again it is the communities in inland New South Wales that will be in the firing line for these thunderstorms and heavy rain,” she said.

“I know that you are flood weary. Our volunteers are also fatigued and wary at this time. I am asking everybody to continue working together.”

Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke asked communities to be aware of warnings. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

The thunderstorms are being delivered across the state as part of a 3500 km-long multistate band of wild weather stretching from Tasmania to Queensland.

The NSW State Emergency Service is particularly concerned around areas in the southwest slopes, the central and Southern Tablelands, and the Riverina and ACT.

SES Commissioner Carlene York said crews were focusing on the next 24 to 36 hours as the prospect of flash flooding loomed large.

“We are also resupplying many communities across the state who are still isolated and will remain isolated for weeks if not months,” she said.

The SES had currently deployed 23 helicopters to bring much needed supplies to around 5000 residents who have been cut off from the outside world.

The largest resupply in SES history aims to assist communities in Collarenebri, Walgett, Lightning Ridge, Goodooga, Brewarrina and parts of Bourke – an estimated 40,000 square kilometre radius.

The renewed rainfall could cause flash flooding in already-saturated rural areas.

Ms York said it’s crucial NSW residents pay close attention to evacuation warnings and act as quickly as possible to avoid being isolated by floodwaters.

There are currently 12 flood warnings in place for NSW, seven of which relate to major flooding in inland areas.

For some communities, it’s much of the same. The western NSW town of Warren has been under major flood warning since September 18.

“It has been a very difficult year and we are not through it yet,” Minister Cook said.

“As long as we continue to work together we will do everything that is possible to make sure our communities are safe and that people’s lives are protected.”

In the meantime, Sky News meteorologist Alison Osborne cautioned communities to take care during the wild weather on Sunday.

“It will be ferocious,” said.

Flood warnings are currently in place in NSW, Victoria, and SA as severe thunderstorms move in. Picture: Sky News Australia

“We’re talking widespread storms from coast to outback. NSW is where the heaviest falls and the wildest storms will zone in.”

Fortunately, the Bureau of Meteorology products the system will move east on Sunday evening and Monday will see a return of sunny skies and more settled weather.

Monday in Sydney will see a high of 30C which will drop to 21C by midweek.

As temperatures drop around the country, snow is expected to fall in the NSW Snowy Mountains and the Victorian high country on Wednesday.

Victoria

“Supercell” thunderstorms are set to wreak havoc across Victoria, where heavy rainfall led to widespread flooding in the past few weeks.

Rainfalls of over 100mm are predicted to impact the Murray and Murrumbidgee river catchments on Sunday, which will worsen the current flood emergencies.

As rain starts to ease on Monday morning, Melbourne will experience a high of 20C before temperatures drop on Tuesday to 14C.

Snow is expected to fall in mountainous areas by midweek as the unseasonably cool weather takes hold of the state.

South Australia

South Australian residents should brace for further weather disruption after wild weather left 80,000 residents without power on Saturday.

420,000 lightning strikes and winds of up to 106km/hr lashed the state on Saturday and left residents struggling with extensive damage.

The heavy rain on Sunday will focus over the state as a deepening low continues to linger over SA.

Mount Gambier and Port Augusta are forecast to receive more than a month’s average rainfall on Sunday as the eastern parts of the state are most at risk.

Giant hailstones and fierce winds are forecast to batter houses until Monday morning, when rain is expected to ease. Temperatures will plummet to 13C on Monday before rising slightly throughout the week.