Eastern States braces for deluge of rain

Farmers didn’t expect to be talking about shot-and-sprung crops after a dry year, as they brace for a deluge of rain on the weekend.

Farmers are bracing for a deluge of rain, delivering up to 100mm across eastern Australia this weekend.

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said there would be a “fresh burst of moisture” from northern Australia, which would likely cause widespread rain across the eastern states.

“Over the weekend we may see some river rises across parts of Tasmania, Victoria and inland New South Wales,” she said.

The Bureau has issued marine wind warnings for the west, central, and central Gippsland coasts for Friday, and central, central Gippsland and East Gippsland coasts for Saturday.

There is an initial minor flood warning for the Kiewa River, and a final flood warning for the Mitta Mitta River.

Tony Clough, who farms at Junee in southern NSW, said his region is in for some “ferocious conditions.”

“The weather map doesn’t have any green or blue on it, it is all yellow and red, and that means things are going to be bad,” he said.

Mr Clough had harvested most of his crops but still had some barley to finish.

“Things are so bad that I parked the header in the shed this morning; I didn’t want to risk it being outside in this weather,” he said.

He didn’t think farmers would be talking about shot and sprung crops that had been characteristically dry this season. But if the rain arrived this weekend and crops were still standing, there would likely be “a hell of a lot of damage.”

“It is going to belt down.”

A NSW State Emergency Service spokesperson said severe thunderstorms on Thursday afternoon affected areas including Sydney, the Hunter, Illawarra, Central West Tablelands, North West Slopes and Plain Districts.

The NSW SES western zone had 48 call-outs for incidents, including road closures, storm damage, and trees over roads.

Meanwhile, the annual Gundagai Rodeo was on the calendar for Saturday, and organisers have taken precautionary steps to postpone the event due to the concerning weather forecast.

Rodeo organisers said all signs indicated a significant rainfall event over the weekend.

A front is expected to deliver widespread heavy rain across the eastern states. Picture: Supplied

Widespread rain forecast until Monday. Source: BOM

Flood watch alerts are in place for minor to moderate flooding in catchments, including:

● Colo River minor flooding 

● Macdonald River  

● Castlereagh River minor flooding 

● Macquarie River to Bathurst minor flooding 

● Macquarie River d/s Burrendong Dam minor flooding 

● Bogan River minor flooding 

● Lachlan River to Cotton’s Weir minor flooding 

● Belubula River minor to moderate flooding 

● Mandagery Creek minor flooding 

● Tumut River minor flooding 

● Upper Murrumbidgee River to Burrinjuck Dam and Cooma Ck minor flooding 

● Queanbeyan and Molonglo Rivers minor flooding