Heavy rain mitigates bushfire threat around Sydney but prompts flooding concerns
By
Maura Kelly, AccuWeather meteorologist
Published Feb 7, 2020 6:32 PM EDT
Roads flooded as heavy rain pounded Byron Bay, New South Wales, on Feb. 7, trapping several cars in floodwaters.
While residents in northwestern Australia are on alert as Severe Tropical Cyclone Damien approaches the Pilbara coast, the eastern coast of the country has been dealing with an ongoing flood threat.
An area of high pressure that was sitting just south of eastern Australia has been promoting easterly winds over the past several days.
These winds have ushered in warm and moist marine air that has fueled periods of rain and thunderstorms across the region.
During the first week of February, widespread rainfall totals of 50-100 mm (2-4 inches) have been observed across far eastern locations of Queensland and New South Wales. Along the southern coast of Queensland and northern coast of New South Wales, rainfall amounts of above 200 mm (8 inches) have been observed.
Flooded roadways were reported in the Sydney area on Friday, according to 10 News First.
The Bureau of Meteorology also issued flood warnings across eastern Australia and warned residents to limit unnecessary travel.
This wet pattern continued through the weekend as flooding downpours drenched the eastern coast of the country.
Onshore flow pulled more moisture into the area through the weekend, resulting in areas of rain and thunderstorms for much of New South Wales and eastern Queensland.
In just two days rainfall totals nearly doubled. As of Sunday, coastal areas reported 150-300 mm (6-12 inches) of rain with over 400 mm (16 inches) falling near the border of Queensland and New South Wales.
The State Emergency Service reported six flood rescues through Saturday night, north of Sydney, according to the Associated Press. Most of those rescued were people who became stranded while attempting to drive through floodwater.
Suburbs across Sydney were ordered to evacuate due to flooding, and more than 110,000 customers were left without power.
As of 8 pm local time, the rain helped to fully extinguish the Currowan Fire burning in the Shoalhaven, which had burnt nearly 500,000 hectares, destroyed 312 homes and damaged another 173 over a span of 74 days, according to the New South Wales state Rural Fire Service.
On Sunday, the high moved east, turning winds out of the northeast and causing rain and storms to spread into eastern Victoria.
Flooding downpours will continue along the coast of Queensland and New South Wales before expanding into coastal areas of Victoria early this week.
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While the wet pattern will help to end the fire threat and reduce drought conditions across eastern Australia, this amount of rainfall in such a short period of time will only exacerbate flood conditions.
"In the fire burn areas, the winds and rain can cause mudslides and debris flows. The winds and loosening soil can cause trees to topple and trigger power outages," warned AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Houk.
Heavy rain will not be the only factor in the dangerous conditions developing in eastern portions of the country.
"Strong onshore winds sending in the warm, moist air will pile up large surf [and] when coupled with high tides will cause coastal water rise and flooding as well," Houk said.
The heaviest rain is expected to taper off into Monday as the area of high pressure continues to move east, but intermittent rain and thunderstorms are expected to continue across these areas through much of next week.
Residents in eastern Australia may also need to keep an eye on newly developed Tropical Cyclone Uesi near Vanuatu, as it has the potential to track toward eastern Australia during the middle to end of the week.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com for the latest updates on this storm and your forecast.
Report a Typo
News / Severe Weather
Heavy rain mitigates bushfire threat around Sydney but prompts flooding concerns
By Maura Kelly, AccuWeather meteorologist
Published Feb 7, 2020 6:32 PM EDT
Roads flooded as heavy rain pounded Byron Bay, New South Wales, on Feb. 7, trapping several cars in floodwaters.
While residents in northwestern Australia are on alert as Severe Tropical Cyclone Damien approaches the Pilbara coast, the eastern coast of the country has been dealing with an ongoing flood threat.
An area of high pressure that was sitting just south of eastern Australia has been promoting easterly winds over the past several days.
These winds have ushered in warm and moist marine air that has fueled periods of rain and thunderstorms across the region.
During the first week of February, widespread rainfall totals of 50-100 mm (2-4 inches) have been observed across far eastern locations of Queensland and New South Wales. Along the southern coast of Queensland and northern coast of New South Wales, rainfall amounts of above 200 mm (8 inches) have been observed.
Flooded roadways were reported in the Sydney area on Friday, according to 10 News First.
The Bureau of Meteorology also issued flood warnings across eastern Australia and warned residents to limit unnecessary travel.
This wet pattern continued through the weekend as flooding downpours drenched the eastern coast of the country.
Onshore flow pulled more moisture into the area through the weekend, resulting in areas of rain and thunderstorms for much of New South Wales and eastern Queensland.
In just two days rainfall totals nearly doubled. As of Sunday, coastal areas reported 150-300 mm (6-12 inches) of rain with over 400 mm (16 inches) falling near the border of Queensland and New South Wales.
The State Emergency Service reported six flood rescues through Saturday night, north of Sydney, according to the Associated Press. Most of those rescued were people who became stranded while attempting to drive through floodwater.
Suburbs across Sydney were ordered to evacuate due to flooding, and more than 110,000 customers were left without power.
As of 8 pm local time, the rain helped to fully extinguish the Currowan Fire burning in the Shoalhaven, which had burnt nearly 500,000 hectares, destroyed 312 homes and damaged another 173 over a span of 74 days, according to the New South Wales state Rural Fire Service.
On Sunday, the high moved east, turning winds out of the northeast and causing rain and storms to spread into eastern Victoria.
Flooding downpours will continue along the coast of Queensland and New South Wales before expanding into coastal areas of Victoria early this week.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
While the wet pattern will help to end the fire threat and reduce drought conditions across eastern Australia, this amount of rainfall in such a short period of time will only exacerbate flood conditions.
"In the fire burn areas, the winds and rain can cause mudslides and debris flows. The winds and loosening soil can cause trees to topple and trigger power outages," warned AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Houk.
Related:
Heavy rain will not be the only factor in the dangerous conditions developing in eastern portions of the country.
"Strong onshore winds sending in the warm, moist air will pile up large surf [and] when coupled with high tides will cause coastal water rise and flooding as well," Houk said.
The heaviest rain is expected to taper off into Monday as the area of high pressure continues to move east, but intermittent rain and thunderstorms are expected to continue across these areas through much of next week.
Residents in eastern Australia may also need to keep an eye on newly developed Tropical Cyclone Uesi near Vanuatu, as it has the potential to track toward eastern Australia during the middle to end of the week.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com for the latest updates on this storm and your forecast.
Report a Typo