Dry weather brings relief for flood-hit NSW communities but concern remains over rising rivers
ASSA
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2021-03-24 10:23:07
After a relentless period of rain, skies are about to clear in Sydney today bringing a glimmer of relief to communities devastated by New South Wales' worst floods in more than a decade.
The rainfall total for the six-day event from Thursday to Wednesday in Sydney will be in the vicinity of 250mm to 350 mm in most suburbs.
The extreme conditions have resulted in several new records, with Penrith receiving 400mm this month - just under double its previous record of 230.2mm.
This is roughly equivalent to two-thirds of Melbourne's annual rainfall in five days.
The weather around the state is forecast to flip today with full sun and temperatures of up to 30C in Sydney, Newcastle, Lismore and Coffs Harbour.
Despite the welcome change, major flood warnings remain in place and the danger for people in low-lying suburbs is far from over.
he town of Singleton in the Hunter region, is also yet to see flood waters peak with levels expected to surpass 11m later today.
Even as the rain clears further today, flood risks remain high thanks to swollen rivers. Damaging winds are expected to cause problems, particularly in the Blue Mountains region.
Residents in Windsor also remain on high alert after the Hawkesbury River continued to rise overnight with more homes engulfed by floodwaters.
The river is currently sitting at a height of around 13m with levels unlikely to receded for several days.
Authorities managing the disaster are shifting their focus gradually further south, as tens of thousands remain affected by burst rivers, landslips and power outages across the state.
South-east Queensland and much of coastal Victoria are also facing their own flood challenges.
