National

NSW torrential rain continues into weekend

By AAP Newswire

Feb 25, 2022

Floodwaters near the Parramatta Ferry jetty — A weekend of heavy rain is expected over already water-logged areas of NSW and SE Queensland. -AAP Image

Torrential rain is expected to continue on the north coast of NSW as Sydney rounds out what is likely to be its wettest summer in three decades.

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The mid north coast and central coast copped the brunt of the rain on Thursday with more than 100 millimetres of rain falling in several areas in the space of 24 hours.

On the central coast, Bateau Bay recorded 116mm, Erina Heights 136mm, Mount Elliott 115mm, and Wamberal Reservoir 140mm since 9am on Thursday.

Further north, Bellingen recorded 173mm, Bowraville 112mm, Dorrigo 103mm, Glennifer 135mm, and Gosford 136mm.

An offshore surface trough near the Qld-NSW border is expected to bring further downpours to south east Qld and northern NSW on Friday.

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Dean Narramore says isolated rainfall totals in some areas stretching from Byron Bay in NSW up to K'Gari Island in Qld could exceed 300 millimetres in the coming days.

"This is a dangerous set up as very heavy rainfall falls over already saturated soils," Mr Narramore said on Thursday afternoon.

He warned people living near rivers or creeks their homes could be inundated and there was a risk of dangerous flash flooding.

The SES has issued an evacuation warning for low lying areas along the Nambucca River and door knocked homes around there overnight.

Some 630 callouts were received by the SES in the 24 hours up to 6am Thursday, with 27 flood rescues, predominantly from vehicles.

Many of the calls for help were for sandbagging to protect against flooding and for damaged roofs.

The Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast and Central Coast are the areas of concern for the SES on Friday.

SES Assistant Commissioner Dean Storey told the ABC on Thursday there is a "very concerning weather systemÂ ... sitting just off the coast and due to make landfall".

Weatherzone's Ben Domensino on Thursday said data suggests Sydney has already surpassed rainfall and humidity records for the summer.

"Preliminary data suggests that this has been Sydney's most humid summer in 10 years," he wrote on Twitter.

"La Nina and a marine heatwave in the Tasman Sea contributed to this muggy season."

Sydney was having its wettest summer in 30 years with its seasonal rainfall hitting nearly 520mm after being lashed with more than 120mm in 48 hours, Mr Domensino added.