Update: 4.03am
The Bureau of Meteorology has advised there is a deep low-pressure system causing heavy rainfall and thunderstorms over northern NSW, whilst it is expected to move off the coast later today, it is leaving significant impacts across the region.
‘NSW SES has issued an Emergency Alert to residents across the Northern Rivers in areas that are prone to flash flooding, as this is expected to be a key concern on Friday morning,’ said the SES in a press release.
‘As a result, residents, and visitors to the Tweed Shire, Ballina Shire, Lismore Shire, and Byron Shire may have received an SMS text message in the early hours of this morning alerting them to the weather situation and potential consequences.’
Superintendent Tony Day advises that ‘Over night the river catchments in the Northern Rivers have received rainfall totals of up to 150mm in a 2-hour period. This type of intense rainfall on top of our wet catchments does lead to Flash Flooding and results in some rivers rising very quickly. It’s a dynamic situation that puts vulnerable communities at risk.’
Original story:
At 2.43am a SES (State Emergency Service) text was received by people in the Tweed and Byron Shire warning of ‘Heavy rain, dangerous flash flooding for Tweed Byron area overnight’ with possible ‘flash flooding and rapid river rises’ in ‘low-lying areas’.
The ‘INTENSE RAINFALL ALERT’ stated that ‘for people living in low-lying areas in Byron Shire that current rainfall totals may lead to flash flooding and rapid river rises. It is expected that low lying areas will progressively become more impacted as the severe thunderstorm passes’.
‘Now is the time to prepare and consider your Emergency Plan,’ continued the text.
‘Check on your neighbours, check your livestock and pets, do you have batteries, medicines, food and clean drinking water. Avoid unnecessary travel. Understand if you are asked to leave where you would go. Be prepared. www.ses.nsw.gov.au Tel 132 500’.
from SES.
Main site not updated
Following the release of the text to residents the main SES site appears not to have been updated. A general warning for the region stating that ‘Minor to moderate flooding is possible in several coastal river catchments in the Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast and Hunter districts from Thursday’ along with a moderate flood warning for Lismore and minor warning for Tumbulgum.
from SES.
Tumbulgum was last updated at 1.15am, Friday 23 September with a minor flood warning.
‘Minor flooding is forecast for the Tweed River, impacting on the town of Murwillumbah and Tweed Heads also the towns of Condong, Tumbulgum, Chinderah, Bilambil, Fingal, Kingscliff, Seagulls Estate, Banora Point, Uki, Tayalgah and Chillingham,’ states the SES.
‘Very heavy rainfall across the Tweed River catchment has caused significant river level rises along the Tweed River and its Tributaries, which has the potential to cause minor flooding along the Tweed River at Tumbulgum from Friday morning.
Lismore has a warning that currently remains at moderate risk from late Friday ’which has the potential to cause minor flooding at Lismore Friday morning’ states an update from 9.30pm on Thursday 22 September.
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