The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has responded to more than 260 calls for help overnight after damaging winds and heavy rain inundated the state’s Northern Rivers region.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a minor flood warning for Lismore on the Wilsons River this morning after a low-pressure system formed off Queensland’s south coast.
The river is expected to peak at 6.8 metres this afternoon, with further showers forecast for the remainder the day.
More than 260 calls were made to the SES overnight, related to fallen trees, property damage, leaking roofs and storm and flood assistance.
Two flood rescues were carried out yesterday, one where a vehicle towing a caravan became stuck in a flooded causeway, while the second involved a multi-agency operation in which two adults and a child became trapped in rising waters.
The SES issued a “Watch & Act, Prepare to Evacuate” in several low lying areas with wind gusts of up to 93km/h recorded in Evans Head.
The advice has been downgraded to advice level for Tweed Heads, Numinbah, Mullumbimby, Byron Bay, Ballina and Brunswick Heads as of this morning.
NSW SES Incident Controller Superintendent Joanna Jones said SES volunteers spent yesterday evening door knocking residents in the area.
“You should monitor the situation and prepare to evacuate so that you can safely evacuate if instructed to do so by NSW SES,” Jones said.
“Wherever possible, you should prepare to stay with family or friends or make other accommodation arrangements.”
Trampoline found in paddock as storm clean-up begins
Heavy rainfall fell over the Wilson’s River catchment since Friday morning with rain intensifying overnight.
BoM earlier issued a severe weather warning for NSW and the ACT that has since been cancelled.
The immediate threat of severe weather has passed, but the situation will continue to be monitored, the Bureau said.
Damaging winds, and wind gusts are set to continue to ease throughout today.
