The east coast of Australia will be pummeled by ‘very severe’ weather for the next 48 hours, causing millions of people to endure a period of anxiety.
Four states are under a flood watch, with some places expecting up to 200 mm of precipitation by midweek.
The Bureau of Meteorology cautioned that persistent rain and thunderstorms along the coast over the next two days will increase river levels and flood risk.
Until Tuesday, severe thunderstorms will bring significant rainfall to much of New South Wales, southern Queensland, and northern Victoria, resulting in flooding, damaging winds, and probable huge hail.
One storm is hitting New South Wales from South Australia, delivering more rain, while another is lingering off the coast of Queensland, threatening to drop up to 200mm of rain on the already wet Northern Rivers region.
The entire state of New South Wales is covered with rain, with nearly 140 flood warnings and twenty evacuation orders in effect.
They include the Northern Rivers, where residents of Lismore spent Sunday sandbagging their homes in preparation for the year’s third significant flood.
The main street of the renowned tourist destination Byron Bay has already been swamped by ankle-deep water due to flash flooding.
Inland, the Mehi River in Moree is threatening to surpass the record 10.87m recorded sixty-seven years ago.
On Sunday night, hundreds of Dubbo residents and tourists sleeping at Western Plains Tourist Park were also asked to leave.
‘If you remain in the region, you may find yourself cut off from power, water, and other necessary services. It may be too unsafe for the NSW SES to rescue you, and structures may not be able to survive the onslaught of flood water,’ the SES advised.
The Mid North Coast, the Hunter and Sydney catchments, Gunnedah on the northern Namoi River, Narrandera on the Murrumbidgee, and Moama on the Murray River are also on high alert.
The NSW Emergency Services Minister, Stephanie Cook, stated that there is a flood risk in “every corner” of the state.
She stated, “We face a perilous 48-hour period over New South Wales.”
We are facing a greater number of flood hazards in more cities and regions than at any other time this year.
Thousands of Lismore residents were advised that they may need to evacuate on Monday if the Wilson River reaches its highest point that evening.
The SES spent Sunday knocking on doors in low-lying areas of South Lismore following a 70mm downpour.
Lismore Council has warned that the neighbouring town of Nimbin will be cut off for up to three days beginning on Monday.
After 31 individuals were rescued by the SES over the weekend, residents are encouraged to comply with evacuation orders and to avoid driving into floodwaters.
The SES received over 400 support requests.
SES Commissioner Carlene York stated, “It is preferable to be inconvenienced for 48 hours and return when it is safe.”
Monday, the entire coast of New South Wales remains under a warning for severe winds, from Byron in the north to Eden in the south.
On Monday, southeastern and central Queensland will be under a severe thunderstorm warning with destructive wind gusts, torrential rain of up to 200mm, and huge hail predicted.
On Monday, the Gold Coast beaches will be under a dangerous surf warning, and swimmers are advised to remain out of the sea.
As flooding continues, Victoria will get between 50 and 150 millimeters of precipitation later in the week, in addition to the 50 to 100 millimeters that have already fallen.
As swollen rivers near their peaks in the northern Victorian communities of Echuca and Kerang, flood levees are being tested.
On Saturday, the Murray River at Echuca surpassed the 1993 flood level of 94.77m above sea level and is expected to reach a height of approximately 95m on Monday.
Saturday night, dozens of homes in and around Echuca Village were visited after water breached a levee.
Tim Wiebusch, of the State Emergency Service of Victoria, told reporters on Sunday, despite the fact that the levees are now holding, they continue to pose a threat to the town in question.
Heavy rain and thunderstorms are also affecting the eastern regions of South Australia and will proceed into western Victoria and New South Wales.
Rain and thunderstorms with heavy precipitation will extend over Victoria and New South Wales on Monday, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, which could lead to increased river level rises in Victoria.
A low-pressure system above South Australia and close to the boundary between New South Wales and Queensland is combining with a high-pressure system near New Zealand to push humid tropical air throughout eastern Australia.
The weather will likely become more settled by the middle of the week, although Victoria and Tasmania may continue to experience showers later in the week.
Extremely high temperatures and heavy humidity are predicted for Far North Queensland and the Top End of the Northern Territory until the middle of the coming week.
The worst of the severe weather, according to WeatherZone, was far from done.
It is projected that a high pressure system will build over New South Wales late Friday and early Saturday, offering some relief before another low pressure system rolls into southeast Australia early next week.