Weather News

Late winter soaking causes flooding

Ben Domensino, Thursday August 25, 2016 - 11:44 AEST

Rain gauges as far north as the Gulf of Carpentaria and south to Ulladulla have received decent rainfall in the last 24 hours, some of which caused dangerous flooding.

In the north, Burketown Post Office set a new August record with 28mm as of 9am today, a whopping 40 times the monthly average for this time of year. This was the heaviest rainfall in five months. Data for the site goes back to 1887.

Widespread totals of 10-20mm were also observed through central and southeast parts of Queensland in the last 24 hours. Coolangatta's 30mm takes the running August total to 113mm, almost double the long term average. Brisbane only managed 10mm, which is the heaviest in a month.

Parts of northern New South Wales received a month's worth of rain in 24 hours, including 54mm at Chillingham. The deluge was enough to produce flash flooding and there have been reports a man went missing in floodwaters at nearby Larnook on Wednesday evening. A minor flood warning remains in place this morning for the Richmond River.

The State Emergency Services also rescued a truck driver trapped on a flooded causeway at Schofields in Sydney this morning.

The heaviest rain for the central New South Wales coast occurred overnight as a low pressure system intensified nearby. Castle Cove and Homebush had the heaviest in the Sydney Basin with 62mm in the 24 hours to 9am. The airport and city both had 53mm, the heaviest August rain in nine years for the latter.

Further south the Illawarra coast received steady rain through the night. Point Perpendicular had a total of 85mm, the heaviest rain for August in 16 years.

The rain was caused by a complex trough and series of lows which passed over eastern Australia in the past two days. Rain has already cleared most areas with the system now moving out to sea and will continue to ease today. Any showers left over will be isolated and brief.

- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2016

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A very wet weekend for southeast Qld, northeast NSW

11:48 AEST A prolonged rainfall event is set to bring large totals to parts of NSW and Qld from Saturday, with possible heavy falls and flooding. A low-pressure system in the Coral Sea, a deepening coastal trough and persistent easterlies will bring moisture-laden air into southeast Qld and northeast NSW will bring days of rainfall to the region. While there is not a drop of rain on the radar over southeast Qld and Northeast NSW on Friday morning, the mass of cloud associated with a low in the Coral Sea will enhance rainfall over the weekend.