Flood risk remains as BOM predicts clear skies ahead

A rainband that has wreaked havoc across NSW in a once in 50 years flooding event, is predicted to clear on Wednesday and move south to Victoria.

The flooded new Windsor bridge in northwest Sydney. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

A rainband that has wreaked havoc across NSW over four day in a once in 50 years flooding event is predicted to clear on Wednesday and move south to Victoria, although the flood risk will remain for several days.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that despite the predictions for clear skies, high water levels in swollen rivers means flooding was likely to continue for the rest of the week across the Sydney basin and mid-north coast.

NSW was battered by another day of relentless rainfall on Tuesday after two weather events merged over the state, bringing weekly rainfall totals close to 1m in many locations on the mid-north coast, about two-thirds of the average annual rainfall.

Springbrook in Sydney’s west recorded 96mm of rain on Tuesday, while hard-hit Kempsey near Port Macquarie recorded 60mm in 24 hours.

Moree in NSW’s northwest recorded 150mm in 24 hours on Tuesday and remote Tibooburra recorded 103mm in the same time.

Queensland endured another day of deluge with thunderstorms entering the mix across the Gold Coast Hinterland, North Tamborine recording 242mm on Tuesday and 600mm in total.

BOM senior meteorologist Jackson Browne said Wednesday would be clear for most of NSW as rain moved offshore, with southeast Queensland also clearing up.

“The coastal trough is evolving into a low pressure system off the coast of Sydney,” he said. “It’s the last hurrah for rainfall for much of NSW contributing to flooding, with some residential showers in the northeast and southeast.”

Mr Browne said some rain would continue south through Wednesday and Thursday, sparking weather alerts across Victoria and Tasmania.

BOM environmental prediction services water manager Victoria Dodds said flooding risks would continue until the weekend.