Rain ‘breaking back’ of NSW fires
Heavy rain across much of NSW is easing the state’s horror bushfire season but also keeping emergency services busy.
Heavy rain across much of NSW is “breaking the back” of the state’s horror bushfire season but also keeping emergency services busy with flooding along the coast.
The Bureau of Meteorology warns torrential rain of up to 200mm is possible overnight in the state’s central coastal area including greater Sydney, the Central Coast, Illawarra, Southern Highlands and Blue Mountains. This could cause “potentially life-threatening” flash flooding and commuters are advised to delay non-essential travel in those areas, the bureau says. Up to 300 millimetres has been recorded in some parts of the north coast with similar totals expected in the Sydney basin by the end of the weekend.
“Most of the damage so far is the leaking roofs, damaged properties, fallen trees and stranded motorists, some of whom have attempted to drive through flooded areas,” SES commissioner Carlene York said on Friday. The SES will be moving resources down into the Illawarra and the South Coast over the weekend as the weather system moves south.
“The fire damaged areas will bring extra risks as the heavy water and floods move through (with) more likelihood of fallen trees and more run-off,” Ms York said.
NSW Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons says the rain is “breaking the back” of the horror bushfire season.
“The rain is good for business and farms as well as being really good for quenching some of these fires we’ve been dealing with for many, many months,” the commissioner told ABC TV on Friday.
“We don’t want to see lots of widespread damage and disruption from flooding, but it is certainly a welcome change to the relentless campaign of hot, dry weather.” There are currently 38 fires burning across NSW.
Damage in Byron
Three vehicles, hundreds of dollars in clothing store stock and a real estate agent’s paper records have been lost after a carpark in Byron Bay flooded this morning.
The complex of 11 shops and five apartments at 15-17 Fletcher Street just off Byron Bay’s main stretch was overwhelmed by the deluge of torrential rain that fell overnight, causing extensive flooding in the basement carpark.
Commercial building manager Steve Harris estimated about five feet of water had flooded the 30x30m carpark, equating to almost 1,371,600 litres of water.
Mr Harris said, while Byron’s main street is flooded two or three times a year because of insufficient drainage, he had never seen it come “up this high or this quick” in his 20 years living in the town.
“As well as competing with significant rainfall, Byron Bay’s drains are also impacted by tides so when we had high tide at 7am there was nowhere for that volume of water to go,” Mr Harris said.
He said it was “extremely lucky” that only three vehicles had been parked in the 24-space carpark as the heavy rain flowed in.
Two of those vehicles are delivery vans owned by the Byron Surf shop, whose owners had also sectioned off part of the carpark to store their retail stock.
“We can’t be sure of the full extent of the damage yet but I’m sure it will be a significant loss of clothing stock for them, as well as their cars being likely written off,” Mr Harris said.
At 3pm on Friday the fire brigade was onsite helping to pump the water out of the carpark.
Mr Harris said the real estate agency had likely lost numerous paper records for their business that had also been stored in the carpark.
Most of the 11 businesses in the complex remained closed on Friday so owners could clean up the water and dirt that had washed into their shopfronts.
“These shops don’t do it easy so losing business like this is tough for them but we’re all pulling together,” Mr Harris said.
“Compared to what other communities have been through though, this is nothing.”
Byron Bay’s heaviest rainfall in 47 years
More than 250mm has fallen in some parts of the NSW Northern Rivers, with Byron Bay receiving the most rain — 281mm by 8am causing widespread flooding in the town’s centre, its heaviest falls in 47 years.
Shwet in #byronbay pic.twitter.com/lSdpqbwd08
— Samantha Turnbull (@samturnbullABC) February 6, 2020
The SES has received 147 requests for assistance in the Northern Rivers region over the past 24 hours, with more than a third complete.
The majority of the calls related to storm water systems and leaking roofs.
Videos posted to social media by residents of Byron Bay, showed the main street flooded with water spilling into shops.
Lachlan Hand, 29, the co-owner of Byron Corner Store with brother Reis Hand, said he was lucky to be able to open the store. “We are lucky we are even open today, it was such a close call,” Mr Hand told The Australian. “The water came right up to the front door and the Main Street was completely flooded, the water was at least knew-deep.”
Mr Hand said the water came through several shops on the Main Street. “We had to borrow bundles of old papers from the newsagent next door and used them as sandbags,” he said.
“We’ve got another week of rain and it’s meant to run for an entire week straight so the worst might be yet to come.”
An SES spokeswoman told The Australian that since 7am this morning, the rain has eased, as the heavy rainfall moves further south in NSW. The emergency service deployed additional volunteers to the Northern Rivers region.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a flood watch warning for the Tweed to the Upper Nepean Rivers. While a flood warning has been issued for the Bellinger and Kalang Rivers, Orara River and Paroo River.
Flood warning amid east coast drenching
Heavy rain that has drenched the east coast of Australia has caused flooding and morning peak hour chaos — and much more is expected throughout the weekend and into next week.
The downpour is falling on large swathes of eastern NSW and Queensland, forcing road closures after flash flooding and prompting the Bureau of Meteorology to issue an urgent weather warning stretching 1000km from the NSW south coast to southern Queensland.
Sydney commuters were slowed down on Friday morning, with a number of normally busy roads blocked due to flooding.
Traffic hold ups have been reported in Pittwater Road near Lismore Avenue in Dee Why, Condamine Street in Many Vale, Victoria Road in Drummoyne and Pennant Hills Road in Thornleigh.
A Severe Weather Warning remains current for heavy rain, damaging winds & possible flash flooding for the Mid North Coast, Metropolitan, Illawarra, and parts of the Northern Rivers, Hunter, Central Tablelands and Northern Tablelands. NSW warnings: https://t.co/MaXeDkAQVn pic.twitter.com/a4ZOUaeNrB
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) February 6, 2020
Overnight Observatory Hill in Sydney recorded 79mm of rain, Spit Bridge in Mosman recorded 86mm while Manly CBD recorded 104mm.
It's pouring in Sydney and the umbrellas are out! ☔ï¸ðŸŒ§ï¸
— Local Government NSW (@LGNSW) February 6, 2020
We're hoping some of this widespread rain for NSW gets to the right places, puts out some fires and replenishes some empty water storages. #localgovnsw #rain #sydneyrain pic.twitter.com/NrPfyPfefB
As the rain continues to pour down over the city, the Bureau of Meteorology reminded everyone that a severe weather warning remains in place for heavy rain, damaging winds and possible flash flooding.
Loving the rain! ðŸ¥°ðŸŒ§â˜”ï¸ #Sydney pic.twitter.com/WnP8B3k0Yu
— Brigid O'Gorman (@Brigid_Og) February 6, 2020
As NSW welcomed heavy rainfall after a blistering summer marred by bushfires and smoke haze, the RFS said 43 grass fires were still burning across the state, with 18 not contained.
The forecast was correct: much-needed rain has arrived in Sydney pic.twitter.com/JzMGDOdLqs
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) February 6, 2020
“Good rainfall is being recorded in parts of the state, with a hope it continues to drop where needed most,” the service wrote on Twitter on Friday morning.
Wonderful wonderful rain #itsraining #huzzah #friday #keepitup #sydney #goulburnst pic.twitter.com/NOYJ6TKlMY
— Sarah Dixon (@SarsyD) February 6, 2020
One commuter said on Twitter that it was “great to see the Sydney skyline and the Harbour Bridge disappearing beneath a rain cloud instead of smoke,”
So great to see Sydney skyline and the Harbour Bridge disappearing beneath a rain cloud instead of smoke pic.twitter.com/Lk3Skluwmx
— Elysse Morgan (@ElysseMorgan) February 6, 2020
Camden Valley Farm, an “urban farm” to the west of Campbelltown welcomed the downpour with their retired dairy cows grazing in the wet weather.
The Bureau of Meteorology on Friday morning issued a severe weather warning covering the coast from the south of Wollongong up to Lismore in the north of NSW and stretching further to Caboolture north of Brisbane.
Illawarra is forecast to receive heavy falls, with up to 200m expected for Wollongong and 150mm for Nowra on Saturday.
Overnight, 45mm of rain fell over Sydney while parts of the central coast received 65mm. Up to 130mm could fall on the city.
Localised flooding on Sydney’s north shore at Northbridge and Roseville and tree branches on the train line are causing challenges for commuters. There is also flooding in the southbound lands of the Princes Hwy, Princess Hwy, close to Anzac Avenue and in both directions on Strathallen Avenue near Cliff Avenue. One of the southbound lands on the M1 is closed.
Rainfall since 9am yesterday.https://t.co/9w82CToBbm
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) February 6, 2020
Byron Bay at the top with 281mm as of 8am Friday. pic.twitter.com/uBy1yDf5qg
The road to the Jenolan Caves, southwest of Katoomba, has been closed due to fears the heavy rain could cause landslides.
“There are also a significant number of loose rock fragments which have an increased likelihood of rolling down the slope and on to the road,” a Transport for NSW spokesman said.
“Given current weather forecasts are predicting heavy and prolonged rainfall in the area over the coming days — the first in the area since the bushfires — it is essential for safety reasons that the road is closed until it can be assessed safe for traffic.”
NSW Maritime executive director Mark Hutchings says conditions are also dangerous out at sea. “Skippers and owners of small boats should be on high alert and check the conditions before considering crossing a coastal bar or heading offshore,” he said in a statement.
But firefighters have welcomed the rain. “We were over the moon to see rain arrive across many parts of NSW, with decent falls in the state’s north,” the RFS said.
Today we were over the moon to see rain arrive across many parts of New South Wales, with decent fall in the State's north.
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) February 6, 2020
There are still 42 fires burning and 17 are yet to be contained. 1200 firefighters will continue working on these firegrounds tonight.#NSWRFS #NSWFires pic.twitter.com/xxNDkj97vV
Heavy rain in Queensland, cyclone warning for WA
Canberra is expected to receive light rain of up to 8mm on Friday and up to 20mm on Saturday.
In Queensland, a 200km line of rain dumped hundreds of millimetres, flooding roads in the drought-stricken state. Noosa received 260mm in just four hours, while Sandy Cape in Fraser Island recorded 243mm. The heavy rains called flash flooding, with an unoccupied car washing away near Noosa. Monday is expected to bring heavy rain to the southeast of the state.
âš ï¸ #QldStorm warning issued for the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast. Particularly heavy rainfall is occurring about the Sunshine Coast hinterland with 93mm in an hour near Yandina, likely causing flash flooding. Stay up to date with warnings: https://t.co/mB2BWDwK2O pic.twitter.com/kJnFpnt83Y
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) February 6, 2020
Surfers Paradise in the Gold Coast will receive up to 80mm of rain on Friday, while Saturday is set to record up to 50mm. Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast will see up to 300mm of rainfall on Friday and up to 40mm on Saturday. The Tin Can Bay region has recorded 350mm in less than 24 hours.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued flood warnings for numerous regions, including Thomson River, lower Flinders River, Georgina River and Maroochy River.
Showers are forecast for Brisbane on Friday, with up to 10 to 30mm of rain expected.
In Western Australia, a cyclone is expected to make landfall in Karratha, north Western Australia on Saturday.
Tropical Cyclone Damien to strengthen as it tracks toward northwest Australian coast: https://t.co/LtXIk7Km4e pic.twitter.com/NOCZzwJCrh
— AccuWeather (@accuweather) February 6, 2020
Cyclone Damien is set to bring wind gusts of up to 200 kilometres and hour and heavy rain to coastal communities. It will be the first severe topical cyclone to make landfall this season.
Damien is expected to be a category four, the second highest intensity, when it hits the WA Pilbara coast. The tropical cyclone formed on Thursday afternoon and could produce wind up to 297 kilometres per hour and heavy rains. Some Pilbara communities are still recovering from Cyclone Veronica in March.
The SES in Karratha is offering sandbags to local communities to prepare homes for heavy rainfall. Schools in the Pilbara region will be closed on Friday and the airport will close an hour before a red alert is issued.
Tropical Cyclone Damien is forecast to intensify and turn towards the Pilbara coast during Friday. Gales are expected on the Pilbara coast Friday afternoon or evening, ahead of a severe cyclone impact on Saturday. #CycloneDamien https://t.co/B1MVXBHmpJ pic.twitter.com/28KVekYn4o
— Bureau of Meteorology, Western Australia (@BOM_WA) February 6, 2020
Farmers are rejoicing as the heavy rains have drenched their properties. Larry Farquhar, manager of Rolleston cattle farm in the Central Highlands region in Queensland said it has been 10 years since Humboldt Creek ran for more than a day at the crossing nearby. “We couldn’t even get across the creek to check any dams after that rain because it was so high,’’ he said. “It’s unbelievable to be in this situation after it being absolutely desolate three weeks ago.”
Mr Farquhar said it had been “surreal” watching the heavy rainfall. “We’ve just been through the driest 21 months,” he said. “It’s unbelievable to get all this rain in such a small time when we’ve gone without it for such a long time.”
He said it’s been amazing to see the landscape change over the last few weeks.
“The grass had to come back from scratch and the response has just been unbelievable. Three weeks ago, there was not a blade of grass left on the place. Now the grass is knee high. The creeks are flowing and the dams are overflowing. It’s unreal.”
With AAP
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