Torrential rain pummels the east coast – but it's just the beginning
There have been hundreds of calls across Australia’s east coast already due to torrential rain but the deluge is far from over.
The Bureau of Meteorology says the intense coastal trough off northern NSW has delivered up to 300 millimetres in some parts of the north coast, with similar totals expected in the Sydney basin by the end of the weekend.
Byron Bay received 283mm in the 24 hours up to Friday 9am while Bellingen to the south on the Mid North Coast had 231mm.
Manly on Sydney’s Northern Beaches has received 104mm in the past 24 hours while Sydney received 79mm.
Sydney’s suburbs of Canterbury and Marrickville each received about 50mm while the North and Mid North Coasts were drenched.
On the Upper North Shore firies removed 150,000 litres of storm water flooding at Boundary Street, Roseville, on Friday afternoon.
#FRNSW crews assisted NSW Roads and Maritime Services to alleviate approx 150,000 litres of storm water flooding at Boundary Street, Roseville.
If you see flooding, please do not attempt to drive, ride or walk through it. pic.twitter.com/y6bIZJdM9D— Fire and Rescue NSW (@FRNSW) February 7, 2020
Noonannie received 209mm in 24 hours while Kingscliff received 181mm. On the Central Coast, Coffs Harbour received 150mm.
The NSW State Emergency Service has responded to 683 jobs across the state since the wet weather arrived on Wednesday.
In the Northern Rivers Region, a car was washed off a road in Glenreagh, and in Tyagarah, two people had to be rescued from a caravan due to rising floodwaters.
"Most of the damage so far is the leaking roofs, damaged properties, fallen trees and stranded motorists, some of whom have attempted to drive through flooded areas," SES commissioner Carlene York said on Friday.
Severe thunderstorm warnings remain in place for parts of the Mid North Coast, Hunter Region, North West Slopes and Plains, Lower Western and Northern Tablelands.
Flood watches are also in place for Brunswick to the Bega Rivers.
Conditions aren’t expected to ease up either with rain forecast throughout NSW right up until Monday.
BoM meteorologist Dr Adam Morgan said by the time the rain ends, coastal areas in the northern parts of the state will have seen their highest rainfall totals since March 2017.
For parts of southern NSW, they will see their highest totals since June 2016.
“All the ingredients are there for continued prolonged rain, heavy showers and thunderstorms throughout the weekend,” Dr Morgan said.
Sydney could be drenched by up to 120mm on Saturday and 150mm on Sunday.
Coffs Harbour is forecast for up to 70mm on both days while Ballina on the north coast could receive up to 90mm and 60mm on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
The state’s Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said he was optimistic the rain will help extinguish some blazes over the coming days. He said there were still 42 fires burning in the state, with 17 of those not contained.
"The rain is good for business and farms as well as being really good for quenching some of these fires we've been dealing with for many, many months," he told ABC.
“We don't want to see lots of widespread damage and disruption from flooding, but it is certainly a welcome change to the relentless campaign of hot, dry weather," he added.
Bureau of Meteorology acting NSW manager Jane Golding says rain could cause roads to be flooded in the city, but much less will fall in the state's drought-ravaged west.
"The bulk of the rain does look like it will affect the coastal ranges and the eastern side of the divide, some showers will make it across but we're not expecting the same flood-producing rain," Ms Golding told reporters on Friday.
Queensland smashed by rain ahead of wet weekend
Heavy rain also drenched parts of the Queensland state.
Suburbs around Brisbane were smashed by more than 100mm of rain in the past 24 hours.
Bribie Island, north of Brisbane, was hit by 104mm while further south and Miami on the Gold Coast was smashed by 110mm.
Conditions should ease across the weekend in Brisbane though with 35mm and 50mm forecast for Saturday and Sunday respectively.
The Gold Coast is in for a wetter weekend than its northern neighbours with up to 50mm on Saturday and 80mm on Sunday.
With AAP
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