Key Takeaways:
- Severe weather warning in place for NSW south coast, Illawarra, Southern Tablelands, and Snowy Mountains
- Heavy rain and damaging winds expected to continue across the weekend
- Campers and travellers advised to leave or change travel plans due to risk of flash flooding and strong winds
- Authorities warning of significant risks for campers and travellers, particularly in low-lying areas
- SES crews visiting high-risk camping areas and coastal sites, urging people to pack up and move away from affected areas
Introduction to Severe Weather
The NSW south coast is bracing for a severe weather event, with heavy rain and damaging winds forecast to continue battering the region across the weekend. A severe weather warning has been issued for the state’s south coast, as well as parts of the Illawarra, Southern Tablelands, and Snowy Mountains. The town of Eden on the NSW far south coast was badly hit on Thursday night, with campers evacuated from low-lying areas into cabins at the top side of the Garden of Eden caravan park. The park’s manager, Bea Bamford, reported that debris and destruction were evident on Friday morning, with some tents and belongings left behind and ruined.
Storm Damage and Evacuations
The storm that made landfall on Thursday night caused significant damage to the Garden of Eden caravan park, with the nearby river rising to past Ms. Bamford’s knees and pushing down the park’s fence line. Authorities have warned that the risk is not over, with six-hourly rainfall totals of 50 to 80 millimetres expected on the south coast during Friday and isolated falls of up to 120 millimetres possible. The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has warned that the severe weather could pose significant risks for campers and travellers across the south coast and Illawarra during the next 48 hours. The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast that the coastline from Wollongong to Moruya will be worst impacted on Friday.
Warnings and Precautions
The SES has warned campers and travellers to take precautions and make smart decisions about their travel plans. SES incident controller Sharon Fox said crews were visiting high-risk camping areas and coastal sites along the south coast, urging people to pack up and move away from affected areas. "Anyone that is camped along the south coast in those low-lying areas we definitely urge you to make a smart decision and pack up and move away from those areas," Ms. Fox said. Caravan park operators in the Illawarra have also reached out to their campers with warnings about the severe weather, with some parks taking precautions such as contacting campers near potential flood sites and warning them to prepare for emergency evacuation or to leave early.
Road Conditions and Travel Advice
People are being urged to leave early and monitor conditions on the roads, especially as conditions peak in the Illawarra on Friday afternoon. The SES is warning of flash flooding on the roads, particularly if thunderstorms develop. Motorists are advised to plan their journeys, check the weather, and either defer travel or make sure they are prepared for wet conditions. "If you’re driving, it is going to be wet today, so make sure your windshield wipers are in good condition," said SES south east duty incident controller Barry Griffiths. "Check the weather … and either defer travel or just make sure that when you are travelling, if the rain is too heavy, pull over. If you see any floodwater, don’t drive through it."
Weather Forecast
The heaviest rain is predicted to shift slowly up the coast through after Friday, to be focused around the Illawarra and Sydney on Saturday and the Hunter by Sunday. Winds are expected to average 60-70 kilometres per hour across parts of the coastline, particularly around Jervis Bay, on Friday. The Bureau of Meteorology has reported high rainfall totals, with Merimbula Airport receiving 110 millimetres in the 24 hours to 10am on Friday, while Brogo near Bega received 115mm and Green Cape 77mm. Multiple residents in Eden, Kiah, and Nethercote have reported receiving around 200mm in their rain gauges. The State Emergency Service responded to 98 calls for assistance across the south-eastern zone in the 24 hours to 8am.
