Source: Bureau of Meteorology

This Flood Watch provides early advice of possible flooding within the specified catchments.
Flood Watch for NSW Coastal Rivers from the Bellinger River on the Mid-North Coast to the Bega River on the South Coast

Issued at 2:10 pm EDT on Saturday 5 March 2022

Flood Watch Number: 16

RENEWED MODERATE TO MAJOR FLOODING POSSIBLE FOR THE HAWKESBURY-NEPEAN VALLEY, HUNTER, PATERSON, WILLIAMS, GLOUCESTER, AND MANNING RIVERS FROM SUNDAY.

FLOOD WARNINGS ARE CURRENT FOR NSW COASTAL RIVERS FROM THE NSW NORTHERN RIVERS TO THE ILLAWARRA INCLUDING GREATER SYDNEY

From Sunday into early next week, heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are forecast across parts of the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley extending into the Hunter, Paterson, Williams, Gloucester, and Manning Rivers. This rainfall has the potential to cause renewed river level rises to areas already impacted by flooding. Moderate to Major flooding is possible.

The focus of the heaviest rainfall, and rivers at greatest risk are those extending from greater Sydney to the Hunter and Manning Rivers, where moderate to major flooding is possible. The weather system may also cause minor to moderate flooding along coastal rivers from the Bellinger to Myall Rivers along the NSW Mid-North Coast. Minor to Moderate flooding is possible along the NSW South Coast from the Illawarra to Bega.

The weather system is expected to cause local and riverine flooding for the coastal rivers from Bellinger to Bega. Flood classes (minor, moderate, major) are only defined for catchments where the Bureau provides a flood warning service.

Catchments likely to be affected include:
Bellinger and Kalang Rivers
minor flooding

Nambucca River
minor flooding

Macleay River
minor flooding

Hastings River
minor to moderate flooding

Manning and Gloucester Rivers
moderate to major flooding

Myall River
minor flooding

Karuah River
minor flooding

Goulburn and Upper Hunter Rivers
moderate flooding

Wollombi Brook and Lower Hunter River
moderate to major flooding

Newcastle Area

Paterson and Williams Rivers
major flooding

Central Coast
moderate flooding

Lake Macquarie
minor flooding

Upper Nepean River
moderate to major flooding

Hawkesbury and Lower Nepean Rivers
moderate to major flooding

Upper Coxs River

Colo River
moderate flooding

Macdonald River

Shoalhaven River
moderate flooding

St Georges Basin
moderate flooding

Clyde River

Moruya and Deua Rivers
minor flooding

Tuross River

Bega River
minor flooding

Flood warnings are current in the following catchments: Wilsons, Clarence, Manning, Wollombi Brook, Lower Hunter, Hawkesbury, Nepean, Colo, Tuggerah Lake, Orara, Paterson, Williams, Snowy River, Richmond, St Georges Basin, Lachlan, Paroo and Barwon.

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