Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 1:02 pm EDT on Saturday 26 February 2022 Flood Watch Number: 5

FLOODING POSSIBLE IN THE NORTHERN RIVERS AND MID NORTH COAST CATCHMENTS

MODERATE TO MAJOR FLOODING POSSIBLE IN THE WILSONS, RICHMOND AND CLARENCE RIVERS FROM SUNDAY

Flood warnings are current for the Wilsons, Richmond, and Clarence Rivers.
Heavy rainfall is forecast from late Saturday into Sunday and Monday may cause renewed river rises with Moderate to Major flooding possible. This will impact communities including Lismore and Grafton.

A surface trough over southeast Queensland is forecast to deepen into a low pressure system in response to a strong upper low Saturday night. This low is expected to track southward into north eastern New South Wales on Sunday producing heavy rainfall with embedded thunderstorms.

A Severe Weather Warning has been issued for the Northern Rivers and parts of Mid North Coast and Northern Tablelands Forecast District.

The weather system is expected to cause flooding for the catchments listed from late Saturday into Sunday. Flood classes (minor, moderate, major) are only defined for catchments where the Bureau provides a flood warning service.

Catchments likely to be affected include:

Tweed and Rouse Rivers minor to moderate flooding

Brunswick River and Marshalls Creek minor flooding

Wilsons River moderate to major flooding

Richmond River moderate to major flooding

Clarence River moderate to major flooding

Orara River moderate to major flooding

Bellinger and Kalang Rivers minor to moderate flooding

Nambucca River minor to moderate flooding

Macleay River minor flooding

Hastings River minor flooding

Flood warnings are current in the following catchments: Richmond, Wilsons, Clarence, Orara, Bellinger, Paroo and Lachlan.

For the latest flood and weather warnings see www.bom.gov.au/nsw/warnings/

For the latest rainfall and weather forecasts see www.bom.gov.au/australia/meteye/

For the latest rainfall and river level information see www.bom.gov.au/nsw/flood

Flood Safety Advice:
This Flood Watch means that people living or working along rivers and streams must monitor the latest weather forecasts and warnings and be ready to move to higher ground should flooding develop.

Flood Warnings will be issued if Minor Flood Level is expected to be exceeded at key sites along the main rivers for which the Bureau of Meteorology provides a flood warning service.
Severe Weather Warnings will be issued or updated if very heavy rain is forecast or observed.

For more information on the Flood Watch Service:
http://www.bom.gov.au/water/floods/floodWarningServices.shtml

FloodSafe advice is available at www.ses.nsw.gov.au

For emergency assistance call the SES on telephone number 132 500


Rainfall and River Conditions Map