A combination of the tail of Cyclone Debbie and a cold front moving up from the Great Australian Bight has caused the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) to warn north coast residents to brace for major flooding tomorrow and into Friday.
The low-pressure system from Tropical Cyclone Debbie currently over central eastern Queensland is gradually moving south-southeast, while a high pressure system over the Tasman Sea helps drag humid tropical air into our region, leading to a very warm day today with maximum temperatures nearing 30.
But a cold front south of the Bight is approaching New South Wales and during Thursday the interaction between it and the humid airmass from the north is forecast to generate widespread rain across the region.
Heavy falls are likely as the low approaches the northern rivers later Thursday or Friday.
Conditions are expected to ease later Friday as the front and low move away to the east, although a new high developing south of the Bight will bring follow-up showers to eastern areas.
Shark nets removed
Ballina beaches will be without their shark nets from today.
NSW DPI advises that the Ballina mesh nets will be removed today due to the incoming poor conditions.
‘Nets will be returned when conditions allow,’ the SharkSmart app advises.
Flood watch
The BoM warns the weather system has the potential to cause river flooding as well as local flash flooding to develop along the following river valleys from Thursday onwards.
Tweed Valley – moderate to major flooding
Brunswick Valley – moderate to major flooding
Richmond-Wilsons Valley – moderate to major flooding
Clarence Valley – minor to moderate flooding
This Flood Watch means that people living or working along rivers and streams must monitor the latest weather forecasts and warnings and be ready to move to higher ground should flooding develop.
Flood Warnings will be issued if minor flood level is expected to be exceeded at key sites along the main rivers for which the Bureau of Meteorology provides a flood warning service. Across NSW, about 70 per cent of Flood Watches are followed by flooding.
FloodSafe advice is available at www.ses.nsw.gov.au
For emergency assistance call the SES on telephone number 132 500.
For life threatening emergencies, call 000 immediately.
For latest rainfall and river level information see www.bom.gov.au/nsw/flood/
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