NSW – and the Hunter – is in for more thunderstorms, heavy rain and damaging winds as extreme weather moves south along the coast after thousands of residents were displaced by flooding in the state’s north.
Parts of hard-hit Lismore are expected to be submerged under 16 metres of flood water.
Hundreds of people across the region were stranded for hours on rooftops amid the crisis as state and federal emergency services struggled to access impacted areas.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet described the flooding and its impacts as “unprecedented” and “distressing”.
There were 17 evacuation orders in place across the state’s north on Monday while 21 areas were under evacuation warnings, covering about 62,000 people.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) is warning of heavy rain, strong to damaging winds and waves looking likely to develop from Tuesday evening as a low moves towards central parts of the NSW coast.
The BoM said the conditions would redevelop offshore then swing onshore on Wednesday and Thursday bringing widespread heavy rain and coastal erosion from Newcastle and stretching down to the Victoria border.
At least 25mm to 40mm is predicted for the Hunter on 2 March, with up to another 25mm 24 hours later.
“A deepening low off the coast of northern NSW is expected to drift southward parallel to the coast today and rapidly deepen in response to an amplifying upper trough and low,” a spokesperson said.
“At this stage, the system is forecast to approach central and south-eastern districts tonight or during Wednesday.
“However, uncertainty exists on its exact timing and where the most significant impacts will occur.”
NSW Minister for Emergency Services Steph Cooke also warned the flood crisis was far from over.
“Many thousands of people are facing the threat of flooding and saving lives is our key priority of the next few days,” she said.
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