Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 12:48 pm EST on Saturday 2 July 2022 Flood Watch Number: 4

FLOODING POSSIBLE FOR THE LOWER HUNTER, CENTRAL COAST, GREATER SYDNEY REGION, SOUTH COAST AND PARTS OF THE CENTRAL WEST FROM SATURDAY MAJOR FLOODING POSSIBLE IN THE HAWKESBURY NEPEAN VALLEY FROM SUNDAY

A surface trough and a developing East Coast Low is expected to bring heavy rainfall to central parts of the NSW coast from the Lower Hunter to the South Coast and parts of the Central West during the weekend and into Monday. This heavy rain may cause minor to moderate riverine flooding along parts of the Wollombi Brook, Central Coast, Greater Sydney, South Coast and Central West.
Major flooding is possible in the Hawkesbury Nepean Valley from Sunday, with minor flooding expected from late Saturday.

This weekend's rainfall is expected to cause localised flash flooding. Rainfall is expected to continue into the new week and may cause additional river rises and flooding along the NSW coast.

Water storages are near capacity.

Catchment soil moisture is average to wet along the NSW coast.

A Severe Weather Warning for Heavy Rainfall has been issued for the Metropolitan, Illawarra and parts of Hunter and Central Tablelands Forecast Districts.

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

Catchments likely to be affected include:

Wollombi Brook and Lower Hunter River minor flooding

Newcastle Area

Central Coast minor flooding

Lake Macquarie minor flooding

Upper Nepean River minor to major flooding

Hawkesbury and Lower Nepean Rivers minor to major flooding

Upper Coxs River

Colo River minor to major flooding

Macdonald River

Northern Sydney

Southern Sydney

Parramatta River

Cooks River minor flooding

Georges and Woronora Rivers minor to moderate flooding

Illawarra Coast

Shoalhaven River minor flooding

St Georges Basin minor to moderate flooding

Clyde River

Macquarie River to Bathurst minor flooding

Flooding is no longer expected in the following catchments: Paterson and Williams Rivers, Goulburn and Upper Hunter 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