UPDATED 3:15PM: A severe weather warning for damaging winds and heavy rainfall has been issued for the South West Slopes, Riverina, Australian Capital Territory and parts of Southern Tablelands, Central West Slopes and Plains, Lower Western and Snowy Mountains forecast districts.
A severe thunderstorm warning has also been issued for heavy rainfall and damaging winds for the Central West Slopes and Plains, South West Slopes, Riverina, Lower Western, Upper Western, Snowy Mountains, Australian Capital Territory and parts of Central Tablelands and Southern Tablelands Forecast Districts. forecast districts.
Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding and damaging winds in the warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include Canberra, Wagga Wagga, Albury, Deniliquin, Tibooburra, Cobar, Bourke and Broken Hill.
Tibooburra airport 101 km/h wind gust at 2:23pm
The next warning for the severe thunderstorm is due to be issued by 5:30pm.
Issued at 11:06am, Friday December 1, the Bureau of Meteorology stats widespread heavy rain is expected in the south with damaging winds over the Alpine peaks.
Tropical, warm and humid air mass over New South Wales will interact with a complex low pressure system moving through today and Saturday.
Heavy rain which may lead to flash flooding is likely over the Riverina, South West Slopes, parts of the Lower Western, southern parts of the Central West Slopes and Plains and the western parts of the Southern Tablelands, Australian Capital Territory and the Snowy Mountains districts during Friday and Saturday.
The heaviest falls are mostly expected to be during the latter half of the day on Friday, and throughout Saturday.
48 hour totals of in excess of 100 mm are likely with localised falls in excess of 200 mm possible m especially on the western slopes and ranges.
Damaging winds, averaging 80 to 90 km/h with peak gusts in excess of 110 km/h are possible over the Alpine peaks above 1900 metres during late Friday and throughout Saturday.
A Flood Watch is Current for the warning area.
Locations which may be affected include Yass, Condobolin, Wagga Wagga, Albury, Young, West Wyalong, Tumbarumba, Deniliquin, Griffith, Hay, Narrandera, Thredbo and Canberra.
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The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
- Move vehicles under cover or away from trees.
- Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.
- Keep at least 8 metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences.
- Report fallen power lines to either Ausgrid on 131 388, or Endeavour Energy on 131 003 or Essential Energy on 132 080, as shown on your power bill.
- Don't drive, ride or walk through flood water.
- Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.
- If you are trapped by flash flooding, seek refuge in the highest available place and ring 000 if you need rescue.
- For emergency help in floods and storms, ring your local SES Unit on 132 500.
The next severe weather warning will be issued by 5pm AEDT Friday.
Southern and Central West NSW on flood watch
Moderate to major riverine flooding may develop along the Murrumbidgee River from Saturday onwards, with minor to moderate flooding possible in the Lachlan, Bell, Mandagery Creek and Belubula Rivers.
Widespread localised flooding is possible across much of Southern and Central Western NSW.
The coming weather system has the potential to cause minor to major riverine flooding as well as local flooding from Friday onwards.
Catchments likely to be affected include:
- Molong Creek and Bell River – minor flooding
- Bogan River – minor flooding
- Upper Lachlan River – moderate flooding (downstream of Wyangala Dam to Cottons Weir)
- Belubula River – moderate flooding
- Mandagery Creek – minor to moderate flooding
- Lower Lachlan River – (local flooding)
- Tumut River – moderate to major flooding
- Upper Murrumbidgee River – (local flooding)
- Central Murrumbidgee River – moderate to major flooding (downstream of Burrinjuck Dam to Wagga Wagga)
- Lower Murrumbidgee River – (local flooding)
- Queanbeyan and Molonglo Rivers – (local flooding)
- Murray River to Tocumwal – (local flooding)
- Murray River – (local flooding)
- Edward River – (local flooding)
- Snowy River – (local and riverine flooding)
- Upper Murray and Mitta Mitta Rivers – (local and riverine flooding)
For the latest flood and weather warnings click here
For the latest rainfall and weather forecasts click here
For the latest rainfall and river level information click here
Kim Chappell
As Senior Producer - Digital for ACM's regional titles I assist newsrooms in digital best practice. Before this role, I was the digital journalist with ACM's national team and prior to that, the digital specialist with ACM's Agricultural division. I started as a general rounds journalist with The Land in 2006, moving up to hold the title of chief of staff before switching to digital reporting in 2015.
As Senior Producer - Digital for ACM's regional titles I assist newsrooms in digital best practice. Before this role, I was the digital journalist with ACM's national team and prior to that, the digital specialist with ACM's Agricultural division. I started as a general rounds journalist with The Land in 2006, moving up to hold the title of chief of staff before switching to digital reporting in 2015.
