NO END IN SIGHT: Storm moves south to smash NSW bringing 150mm of rain and gusts of up to 90km/h 


Extreme weather which has wreaked havoc across Australia’s east coast, leaving eight dead and hundreds still trapped or missing, is now moving further south into NSW.

More than one metre of rain has fallen across parts of south-east Queensland and north-east NSW over the past week, forcing thousands of families to evacuate. 

As the low moves south on Tuesday, communities from the NSW Mid North Coast to the South Coast are bracing for the deluge, with up to 150mm of rain and winds of up to 90km/h expected to hit.

The authorities and the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) advised people to prepare for what NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has called ‘unprecedented’ weather. 

Southeast Queensland residents have also been warned to expect more flooding with dam releases and heavy rain on the way.

A woman carries a baby as people use small boats to travel through flood water in Lismore, NSW on Monday, February 28, 2022. Heavy rain is bringing record flooding to some east coast areas

A woman carries a baby as people use small boats to travel through flood water in Lismore, NSW on Monday, February 28, 2022. Heavy rain is bringing record flooding to some east coast areas

Very high winds and flooding are forecast to hit Sydney over the next 48 hours.

‘Many would have seen distressing images of survival and there are many distressing reports, particularly around the Lismore area, of people who are isolated and currently stranded,’ Mr Perrottet said.

‘Simply because your community has not flooded in the past does not mean it will not flood over the course of this week … we would expect things to get worse over this period of time.’ 

BoM issued a flood watch for the Mid North Coast, Central Coast, Greater Sydney, the Illawarra and the South Coast. There are also major flood warnings for rivers in the state’s north and minor to moderate flood warnings on the Mid North Coast. 

The rain fell in record-breaking numbers in northern NSW in the 24 hours to 9am on Monday, with 775mm of rain in Dunoon, 537mm in Nimbin, 520mm in Mullumbimby and in 467mm Lismore. 

A woman (pictured) is assisted to higher ground as people use small boats to travel through flood water in Lismore

A woman (pictured) is assisted to higher ground as people use small boats to travel through flood water in Lismore

Flooding in Lismore (pictured), north-eastern New South Wales on Monday, February 28, 2022

Flooding in Lismore (pictured), north-eastern New South Wales on Monday, February 28, 2022

A McDonald's sign (pictured) is all that's visible in a flooding scene from Lismore, New South Wales

A McDonald’s sign (pictured) is all that’s visible in a flooding scene from Lismore, New South Wales

Milton resident Jillian Handyside is seen at her flooded house in Brisbane, Monday, February 28, 2022

Milton resident Jillian Handyside is seen at her flooded house in Brisbane, Monday, February 28, 2022

People are pictured on flooded streets in Lismore in northern New South Wales

People are pictured on flooded streets in Lismore in northern New South Wales

An ominous map of Queensland and northern NSW (pictured) has revealed the regions hardest hit by the incessant deluge as residents fight to keep their heads above water

An ominous map of Queensland and northern NSW (pictured) has revealed the regions hardest hit by the incessant deluge as residents fight to keep their heads above water

State Emergency Service commissioner Carlene York said even with the best forecasting, it was hard to tell which areas would be worst hit.

‘The issues with these types of east coast lows is that it just depends where it goes – how close to the coast and what path it travels. And then the unknown is where it will actually drop the heaviest rainfall,’ she told the Sydney Morning Herald. 

Sydney is predicted to get up to 90mm of rain on Tuesday and Wednesday, while further south, Kiama is forecast to get up to 80mm on Tuesday and 150mm on Wednesday. 

The Batemans Bay region will be inundated with similar levels on Wednesday and Thursday.

As the low moves south on Tuesday, communities from the NSW Mid North Coast to the South Coast are bracing for what is coming

As the low moves south on Tuesday, communities from the NSW Mid North Coast to the South Coast are bracing for what is coming

A man is pictured carrying a child as people wade through flood water in Lismore, NSW on Monday, February 28, 2022

A man is pictured carrying a child as people wade through flood water in Lismore, NSW on Monday, February 28, 2022

A man (pictured) is wrapped in a blanket to shield from the rain as water floods through Lismore

A man (pictured) is wrapped in a blanket to shield from the rain as water floods through Lismore

A police officer is pictured carrying a child through flood water in Lismore on Monday, February 28, 2022

A police officer is pictured carrying a child through flood water in Lismore on Monday, February 28, 2022

Flooding in seen the city of Lismore, northe-astern New South Wales on Monday, February 28

Flooding in seen the city of Lismore, northe-astern New South Wales on Monday, February 28

Rescue boats are pictured operating in the flooded city of Lismore in northern New South Wales

Rescue boats are pictured operating in the flooded city of Lismore in northern New South Wales

The huge geographic spread of the floods is stretching emergency resources. Ms York said the SES resisted sending more people to northern NSW to ensure there was capacity down south when needed.

‘We have moved extra members up into the Northern Rivers district, but also we have retained our volunteers and other emergency service partner members down on the South Coast to make sure that they are in the stages of planning, and also getting messaging out and communication out to the community to prepare them for this event as it comes through,’ she said.

Ms York said the rain coming to Sydney is unlikely to be as heavy as the storms up north, but could still lead to flash flooding.

‘That is affected by the amount of saturation that’s in the land at the moment that there is no way for the water to run as it falls onto the ground, which will cause flash flooding and that’s a very dangerous situation for any motorists.’ 

After floods inundated at least 20,000 homes in Brisbane over the weekend, Lismore in northern NSW was the next major centre to be slammed by the disaster. 

The bureau has warned that flood levels below 3.5m could continue to plague  Brisbane and the surrounds throughout the week, with persistant showers hitting Wednesday and continuing into the weekend. 

Schools will remain closed in Brisbane, Logan and the Gold Coast on Tuesday, and trains are expected to stay offline for several days.  

The Brisbane River peaked at 3.85m at 8am on Monday, the highest level seen since the devastating floods of 2011 – with authorities warning residents of 140 suburbs. 

Two catastrophic peaks are expected on Monday night and Tuesday morning. 

Meanwhile, a pontoon carrying a crane has broken free of its mooring at the Howard Smith Wharves in Brisbane. 

A major evacuation was sparked earlier in the day with authorities fearing it xould move downstream and slam into parks or buildings, including Howard Smith Wharves. The situation was monitored overnight.

A tug boat may brought into move the giant crane on Tuesday.

A distraught woman (pictured) is helped through the flood in the town of Lismore

A distraught woman (pictured) is helped through the flood in the town of Lismore

Residents evacuate from flooding occurs in Lismore, on February 28, 2022. A severe weather warning is in place for south-east Queensland and areas in northern New South Wales. The weather pattern will spread further down in NSW on Tuesday and Wednesday

Residents evacuate from flooding occurs in Lismore, on February 28, 2022. A severe weather warning is in place for south-east Queensland and areas in northern New South Wales. The weather pattern will spread further down in NSW on Tuesday and Wednesday

Flooding is pictured having rising to almost the height of streetlights in Lismore, NSW

Flooding is pictured having rising to almost the height of streetlights in Lismore, NSW

In NSW, almost 16,000 people across 12 areas including Lismore, Murwillumbah, Mullumbimby and Grafton have been subject to evacuation orders, with another 14,000 in surrounding areas on high alert after record falls in the region.

The unprecedented flood emergency unfolding in northern NSW is likely to worsen in coming days, as Lismore is expected to be submerged under 16 metres of flood water.

With the Wilsons River hitting a record 14.3m on Monday, water surged over the levee defences protecting the city of 30,000. 

Advice for people in flood-affected areas: 

  • Never drive through flood waters 
  • Clean out your gutters 
  • Tie down loose equipment 
  • Prepare an emergency pack in case you have to leave 
  • Include food, water, medication, important documents, a torch, battery pack and a radio

Source: SES 

Mayor Steve Krieg showed the devastating impact the weather was having when he tweeted: ‘If anyone has a boat and can get to Engine Street in South Lismore, there’s a pregnant lady sitting on her roof. HELP please.’   

Hundreds of people across the region were been left stranded for hours on rooftops amid the crisis as state and federal emergency services struggled to get to affected areas.

‘The expectation of the flood waters peaking is now above 16 metres in Lismore and for context the previous record was just a tick over 12 metres in 1954,’ NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet told ABC Radio.

He said two defence force Blackhawk helicopters were conducting rescues as flying conditions marginally cleared.

The premier described the inundating flood as ‘unprecedented’ and ‘distressing’.

Rescuers in a flotilla of dinghies and inflatables plucked stranded residents from the rooftops and balconies of submerged homes in Lismore.

Other residents waded to higher ground carrying children, belongings and pets.

Susan Raddatz, an acupuncturist in the city, climbed out of her first floor apartment window where she was rescued at around 11am by other residents on a motorboat.

‘I didn’t believe my eyes,’ she told AAP from a makeshift evacuation centre set up at Goonellabah Sports and Aquatic Centre.

Flood waters inundate Lismore in northern NSW, almost to the top of street signs, on February 28, 2022

Flood waters inundate Lismore in northern NSW, almost to the top of street signs, on February 28, 2022

A man wearing just his swimming trunks is pictured leading a dog on a string through flooded waters in Lismore

A man wearing just his swimming trunks is pictured leading a dog on a string through flooded waters in Lismore

People use small boats to travel through flood water in Lismore on Monday, February 28, 2022

People use small boats to travel through flood water in Lismore on Monday, February 28, 2022

Paramedics and emergency workers are pictured beside a stretcher and an ambulance in flooded waters in Lismore, NSW

Paramedics and emergency workers are pictured beside a stretcher and an ambulance in flooded waters in Lismore, NSW

Ms Raddatz said the water levels had by that time risen up to three levels of her building, surprising her with the gushing speed.

‘I always thought I’d be safe being on the first floor … It’s never flooded like this. It didn’t take much.

She said lots of gas cylinders were afloat in the muddy waters causing concerns for the volunteers about flammability.

Evacuation centres in northern NSW

  • Southern Cross University Lismore – P Block, Military Road, East Lismore. Only travel via Keen Street, Leycester Street and New Ballina Road via Lismore Heights.
  • Casino High School – Queensland Road, Casino
  • Woodburn Public School – Woodburn St, Woodburn
  • Dunoon Recreation Centre – Cowley Road, Dunoon
  • Uniting Hall Coraki – Adams Street, Coraki
  • Rappville Public School – Lyons Street, Rappville
  • Kyogle Memorial Hall – corner of Geneva Street and Summerland Way, Kyogle
  • The Salvation Army Tweed Centre – corner of Leisure and Woodlands Drive, Banora Point
  • Murwillumbah TAFE – Murwillumbah Street, Murwillumbah
  • Ocean Shores Country Club – Orana Road, Ocean Shores
  • Kingscliff TAFE – Cudgen Road, Kingscliff
  • RSL Club Mullumbimby – Dalley Street, Mullumbimby
  • Uki Public Hall – Kyogle Road, Uki
  • Grafton Racecourse – Powell Street, Grafton

The SES has been overwhelmed with more than 900 calls for help as the region was hit by its worst rainfall ever, with the situation being described as ‘dire’ and ‘catastrophic’.

There are 17 evacuation orders in place across the state’s north while 21 areas are under evacuation warnings, covering around 62,000 people, the premier said.

The crisis is widening, with multiple major flood warnings for north-eastern NSW including the Tweed, Richmond, Wilsons, Bellinger and Clarence rivers.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has offered financial and logistical support to flooded communities, the premier said. 

Rainfall of 300-700mm was recorded for northern parts of the Northern Rivers in the last 24 hours, the Bureau of Meteorology (Bom) said.

Dunoon, a small village located roughly 20km north of Lismore, registered a massive 775mm of rain during the 24 hours ending at 9am on Monday.

Weatherzone, a weather monitoring service, said the ‘deluge is the second highest daily rainfall total ever officially observed in NSW’.

The wider affected area is vast, with potentially life-threatening flash-flooding taking in huge areas of the state.

The BoM said Murwillumbah has seen record flooding with its levee flooded.

At Coraki, on the flooded Richmond River, 25km south of Lismore, local Shelly Hayes fled her house to stay with a friend, who lives on a hill.

‘The main street is all under water. The river is higher than I’ve ever seen it,’ said Ms Hayes.

Some of the town’s 2,000 people were sheltering at the Uniting Church but there was ‘no bedding or food’, she said.

‘Looking out my window … it looks like I live on a dam,’ newsagency owner Jenelle Stanford who lives between Mullumbimby and Byron Bay said. 

Intense episodes of wild weather will remain a worrying reality prompted by climate change, scientists say.

‘Over the past decades we have already seen an increase in the number and intensity of extreme rainfall events and we are expecting this trend to continue into the future,’ said Dr Nina Ridder, a research associate at UNSW Climate Change Research Centre.

Pictured is a flooding street in Lismore, NSW, where the water has inundated a business

Pictured is a flooding street in Lismore, NSW, where the water has inundated a business

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