Residents in parts of NSW warned to evacuate as heavy rains cause flash flooding

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Residents in parts of NSW warned to evacuate as heavy rains cause flash flooding

Residents in parts of NSW have been told to evacuate immediately amid heavy rains and flash flooding, with the SES warning it may be too late for people to be rescued if they wait.

An emergency warning was issued late on Monday for parts of Paterson and Dungog, as well as the Ferndale Caravan Park, advising people to evacuate before 11.30pm due to dangerous flooding.

Camera IconWild weather has lashed the Central Coast and the Hunter Valley causing flash flooding and prompting hundreds of calls for help to the SES. Weatherzone Credit: Supplied

The Paterson River at Gostwyck Bridge is currently at 10.40m and rising, well above the minor flood level of 9.19m.

The Bureau of Meteorology warned it may reach around 13.5m on Tuesday morning, with major flooding nearing the flood level recorded in March, 2021.

The Williams River at Dungog is also expected to exceed major flood levels by early Tuesday morning, possibly nearing 9m.

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Early on Tuesday morning, further evacuation notices were also issued for parts of Bulahdelah and the Gloucester Caravan Park, warning residents “must evacuate” to escape rising floodwaters before 6am.

“You should evacuate to stay with family, friends, or alternate accommodation in areas unaffected by flooding,” the alert said.

“If you remain in the area, you may become trapped without power, water, and other essential services.

“It may be too dangerous for NSW SES to rescue you, and buildings may not be able to withstand the impact of flood water.”

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The SES has also advised people in Port Macquarie, Taree, Kempsey, Barrington Tops, Winham and Yarrowtich to stay indoors, while ‘watch and act’ alerts remain in place for areas along the coast between Chittaway Point and Glenreagh.

Authorities warned that six-hourly rainfall totals between 60mm and 100mm are likely to continue, with a whopping 166mm recorded at Taree Airport and 97mm recorded at Mount Barrington in the six hours to 3.30am on Tuesday.

As well as rain and flash flooding, the Bureau has also issued marine wind warnings for various locations on the NSW coast, including the Hunter Coast, Byron Coast, Coffs Coast and Macquarie Coast.

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The wild weather is due to a coastal trough positioned offshore from the southern Mid North Coast, which is forecast to slowly track northwards into Tuesday, bringing further heavy rainfall and damaging winds to the Hunter Region.

With further moderate to heavy rainfall forecast for the next few dates, residents have been told to remain vigilant.

Five public schools were declared non-operational, including Dungog High School, Dungog Public School, Glen William Public School, Mount Pleasant Public School and Narara Valley High School.

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Limited buses are replacing trains on the Hunter Line trains between Newcastle Interchange, Scone and Dungog in both directions due to flooding at Sandgate.

For life threatening emergencies, call 000 (triple zero) immediately.

If you require rescue, assistance to evacuate or other emergency help, ring NSW SES on 132 500.

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