Forecast

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales
This Flood Watch provides early advice of possible flooding within the specified catchments.

Flood Watch For The New South Wales Coastal River Catchments For The Hunter To The South Coast
Issued at 12:16 PM EST on Friday 01 July 2022
Flood Watch Number: 3
(re-issue to include severe weather warning details)
FLOODING POSSIBLE FOR THE HUNTER, CENTRAL COAST, GREATER SYDNEY REGION AND SOUTH COAST FROM SATURDAY
MAJOR FLOODING POSSIBLE IN THE HAWKESBURY NEPEAN VALLEY OVER THE WEEKEND

Heavy rainfall associated with a potential East Coast Low is forecast to develop through central parts of the NSW coast from the Hunter to the South Coast during the weekend and into early next week. This heavy rain may cause minor to moderate flooding along parts of the Hunter, Central Coast, Greater Sydney and South Coast. Major flooding is possible in the Hawkesbury Nepean Valley over the weekend.
Rainfall is expected to intensify further in 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 Central Tablelands Forecast Districts.
The weather system is expected to cause 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:
Goulburn and Upper Hunter Rivers
Wollombi Brook and Lower Hunter River
Newcastle Area
Paterson and Williams Rivers
Central Coast
Lake Macquarie
Upper Nepean River
Hawkesbury and Lower Nepean Rivers
Upper Coxs River
Colo River
Macdonald River
Northern Sydney
Southern Sydney
Parramatta River
Cooks River
Georges and Woronora Rivers
Illawarra Coast
Shoalhaven River
St Georges Basin
Clyde River
Manning and Gloucester Rivers
Wallis Lake
Myall River
Karuah River

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:
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
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}

Next issue:
The next Flood Watch will be issued by 02:00 pm EST on Saturday 02 July 2022.

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

Severe Weather Warning
for Heavy Rainfall

for Metropolitan, Illawarra and parts of Central Tablelands Forecast Districts.

Issued at 12:09 pm Friday, 1 July 2022.

HEAVY RAINFALL to develop about the Sydney Metropolitan, Illawarra and Central Tablelands districts during Saturday.

Weather Situation
A surface trough is expected to deepen offshore from the Sydney Metropolitan area on Saturday, and remain near stationary over the weekend, driving widespread showers and heavy rain along parts of the eastern coast of NSW. An East Coast Low may form within the trough early on Monday and linger until Tuesday, which will prolong this significant rainfall event across multiple days .
HEAVY RAINFALL for the following areas:
Metropolitan, Illawarra and Central Tablelands
HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is forecast for the Illawarra and Sydney Metropolitan districts, developing during Saturday and continuing during Sunday. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 80 to 150mm are possible.
There is the potential for an East Coast Low to develop overnight Sunday or early Monday off the coast, which would prolong this heavy rainfall event into early next week, with consecutive days of heavy rainfall possible. If an East Coast Low does form, damaging wind gusts will become a risk late on Sunday and into next week, depending on the strength and location of the low.
Heavy rainfall increases the potential for landslides and debris across roads.
A Flood Watch has been issued for this event for coastal catchments from the Hunter to the South Coast, see http://www.bom.gov.au/nsw/warnings/index.shtml.
Locations which may be affected include Sydney, Penrith, Parramatta, Wollongong, Nowra, Bowral, Campbelltown, Port Kembla, Albion Park, Kiama, Huskisson and Springwood.

The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
* Don't drive, ride or walk through flood water.
* Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.
* If you are trapped by flash flooding, seek refuge in the highest available place and ring 000 if you need rescue.
* Be aware that run-off from rainfall in fire affected areas may behave differently and be more rapid. It may also contain debris such as ash, soil, trees and rocks.
* After bushfires, heavy rain and the loss of foliage can make the ground soft and heavy, leading to a greater chance of landslides.
* Stay vigilant and monitor conditions. Note that the landscape may have changed following bushfires.
* For emergency help in floods and storms, ring your local SES Unit on 132 500.

The next Severe Weather Warning will be issued by 5:00 pm AEST Friday.
Warnings are also available through TV and Radio broadcasts, the Bureau's website at www.bom.gov.au or call 1300 659 210. The Bureau and State Emergency Service would appreciate warnings being broadcast regularly.