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Rainfall to persist across NSW coast

Jessica Belzycki
May 6 2024 - 5:33pm

Heavy rains that have lashed the NSW coastline since May 3 are unlikely to ease, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

BoM meteorologist Jiwon Park said state-wide rainfall would continue over the next seven days with some days heavier than others.

Mr Park said lighter rain conditions were expected early in the week with heavier rains and potential flooding later in week and into the weekend.

Inland regions were more likely to be affected on May 9 with rains shifting east between the Central Coast and Illawara region on the weekend.

"We may see what we saw this weekend repeating," Mr Park said.

"Because of continuation of rain, flash flooding is always risk even with moderate totals, use your common sense, if you experience heavy rainfall in your areas, avoid flooded road, take precaution and keep yourself updated with latest warnings from BoM and SES," he said.

Hardest hit regions

Between Saturday May 4 and Sunday May 5, the Hunter and the Illawara coast had the worst of the rain, Mr Park said.

Jervis Bay in Shoalhaven recorded the highest levels across the weekend with 154.8 millimetres.

In the 24 hours before 9am on May 6, the Central Coast received the highest rainfall with Hamlyn Terrace Public School weather station recording 165 millimetres.

Mr Park said Nobby's Head in Newcastle recorded 107mm, and Gosford recorded 101mm.

A moderate flood warning is current for Tuggerah Lake and Wyong River with lake and river levels expected to continue to rise into Tuesday.

Further west, a moderate flood warning is in place for the Warrego River.

Mr Park said the minor flooding warning in St Georges Basin had eased and the warning had ended.

Total rainfall over two days was expected to reach more than 300mm in some places by the end of Wednesday, November 29, 2023. Video via AAP.

A NSW SES spokesperson said in their Northern zone, from the Central Coast up to Coffs Harbour, they responded to 455 calls from May 3 to May 6.

The SES was called to six rescues in Tea Gardens, Gosford and Ourimbah on May 5 and 6 after people drove into deep floodwater.

A man in Farmborough Heights found the retaining walls on his slopped block had collapsed after heavy rain on Sunday May 5.

She said 839 calls had been lodged across NSW with roughly 98 per cent related to storms and flooding.

"People should follow the advice of SES and never drive through flash flooding," she said.

Jessica Belzycki

Journalist at the Newcastle Herald.