Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Initial Flood Watch for NSW Central and Southern Coastal Rivers, and Macquarie and Queanbeyan Rivers
Issued at 12:47 pm EST on Tuesday 5 April 2022

Flood Watch Number: 1

MINOR TO MODERATE FLOODING POSSIBLE FOR NSW CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN COASTAL RIVERS, INCLUDING GREATER SYDNEY FROM WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY

Heavy rain is expected to develop along the NSW South Coast during Wednesday due to the combination of a low pressure trough and an onshore airstream. Heavy rain is expected to increase and extend to the southeast of NSW during Thursday and Friday. Minor to moderate flooding is possible for Central and Southern Coastal Rivers from Wednesday into Thursday.

Catchments in the flood watch areas are wet from recent rainfall.

Flooding is possible in the catchments listed from Wednesday into Thursday. Flood classes (minor, moderate, major) are only defined for catchments where the Bureau provides a flood warning service. The situation is being actively monitored and updated flood watches and warnings will be issued where necessary over the coming days.

Catchments likely to be affected include:

Wollombi Brook and Lower Hunter River minor to moderate flooding
Newcastle Area
Central Coast minor flooding
Upper Nepean River minor to moderate flooding
Hawkesbury and Lower Nepean Rivers minor to moderate flooding
Upper Coxs River
Colo River minor to moderate flooding
Macdonald River
Northern Sydney
Southern Sydney
Parramatta River
Georges and Woronora Rivers minor flooding
Illawarra Coast
Shoalhaven River minor flooding
St Georges Basin minor flooding
Clyde River
Moruya and Deua Rivers minor flooding
Macquarie River to Bathurst minor flooding
Queanbeyan and Molonglo Rivers minor flooding

Flood warnings are current for the Richmond, Orara, Paroo, Culgoa, Birrie, Bokhara and Narran, Snowy, and Macintyre River (Qld) Rivers.

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

For life threatening emergencies, call 000 immediately

Rainfall and River Conditions Map