The NSW State Emergency Service has had more than 700 calls for help and carried out at least five flood rescues after a weekend of wild weather lashed the state's north.
Key points:
- Winds of up to 90kph are expected on the NSW North Coast today
- Large swells of over 5 metres are causing major beach erosion risks
- NSW SES has warned motorists to avoid driving in flooded areas
Severe weather warnings are still in place for far-north New South Wales and south-east Queensland.
NSW SES spokesperson Ilana Pender-Rose said more heavy rain was expected to come this morning in parts of the Mid-North Coast and Northern Rivers regions.
"Flash and riverine flooding are the biggest risks up north with this system," she said.
Overnight, the SES contacted hundreds of residents in the Tweed and Byron Bay areas to warn them of heavy rain and dangerous flash flooding.
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The Tweed and Brunswick River Valley had rapid creek rises yesterday morning, with 415 millimetres recorded just across the Queensland border.
Ms Pender-Rose urged people to avoid flooded areas, saying just 15 centimetres of floodwater can float a small car.
SES assistant commissioner Nicole Hogan echoed the sentiment, saying further rainfall posed a serious risk for drivers who ignore warnings and plough through flood water.
"We are expecting further rainfall, up to 150mm mid-morning today, so we are asking residents to be mindful of where they're going and if they come across flash flooding over roads to take an alternative route," she said.
There are also forecasts for damaging winds with gusts of over 90 kilometres an hour along the coast north from Yamba, and possibly south to Crescent Head on the Mid-North Coast today.
The wild wind will cause damaging surf conditions, with waves over 5 metres north from Yamba and down to Port Macquarie.
The hazardous swell in NSW has ignited fears that Byron Bay's main beach, already plagued by erosion, could be further damaged.
The low-pressure trough off Queensland's south coast caused abnormally high tides, heavy rain, damaging winds and dangerous surf, with more to come.
Qld's Fire and Emergency Services Minister Mark Ryan likened the expected conditions to a category-one cyclone event.
The weather bureau has forecast that the weather may ease off late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
"But having said that, we still have a chance of flash flooding Wednesday due to storms as well," Ms Pender-Rose said.
Several flood warnings issued overnight
On Monday morning, a moderate flood warning was issued for Wilsons River at Lismore with the worst to hit on Tuesday.
A flood warning was also issued for the Tweed River, with flooding possible at Tumbulgum, Murwillumbah and Chinderah.
The Bellingen River may receive minor to moderate flooding, depending on rainfall across the next two days.
Brunswick River, Marshalls Creek, Billinudgel and Mullumbimby also received minor flood warnings.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiaGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTEyLTE0L25zdy1zZXZlcmUtd2VhdGhlci1yYWluLXdpbGQtc3VyZi1hbmQtZmxvb2RpbmctY29udGludWVzLzEyOTc5NjQ40gEnaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuYWJjLm5ldC5hdS9hcnRpY2xlLzEyOTc5NjQ4?oc=5
2020-12-13 20:34:00Z
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