New South Wales is bracing for another wet and stormy weekend, with widespread rain and thunderstorms predicted to affect much of the state. The South Coast and Illawarra are expected to see the heaviest rainfall, potentially reaching 200mm, which has prompted flash flood warnings.
Sydney’s Warragamba Dam, already near full capacity at 99%, is forecast to spill, raising concerns about flooding for downstream areas. The dam last overflowed in April, causing significant damage to homes in the vicinity.
According to Sarah Scully from the Bureau of Meteorology, coastal regions could receive between 50mm and 100mm of rain by Friday night, while some inland areas might see isolated totals of 50mm to 70mm.
Severe weather warnings were issued for flash flooding in NSW’s South Coast and Illawarra.Thunderstorms could further intensify the rainfall and risk of road closures.
The heaviest rainfall is anticipated to begin on Saturday, moving across southeastern NSW. This will heighten the risk of severe thunderstorms in Sydney and Illawarra, potentially leading to flash flooding.
Further south, rain totals could range from 70mm to 100mm, with some areas experiencing up to 200mm in 24 hours.
The NSW State Emergency Service warns that heavy rain may lead to flooding along the Hawkesbury River and minor flooding in the Hawkesbury Nepean Valley, including North Richmond.
Severe weather warnings are also in place for the northern South Coast, southern Illawarra, and eastern Southern Tablelands, with flash flooding likely from Saturday morning into Sunday.
Neighboring Queensland and Victoria are also expected to experience wet weather conditions.