'On its way back': why the Hunter rain, flood risk isn't over yet

The Advertiser

22-05-2025

RENEWED rises in Hunter waterways and a fresh batch of heavy rain are expected to offer little respite to flood-struck parts of the region.
A batch of rain was expected to track back down the Hunter coast from midnight on Thursday, bringing heavy and intense rainfalls to the southern parts of the region.
It's the same low-pressure system that has caused flash flooding in the Mid North Coast.
While conditions may slightly ease, warnings remain in place for both regions as the flood risk refuses to pass.
The Bureau of Meteorology's Helen Reid said the focal point of rainfall that has stretched across the Lower Hunter and into areas like Wingham and Taree was expected to work its way further south from Thursday afternoon and overnight into Friday.
"We can expect to see conditions deteriorate again. It has been wet the whole time but now we'll get heavier rainfall, keeping minor flood warnings throughout the region," she said.
With half a metre of rain falling over the last three days, major flood warnings are in place for the Wollombi Brook and Bulga.
Renewed rises were expected for those waterways.
"The Wollombi Brook is possibly going to reach 6.7 metres and there is some minor flooding happening in the Upper Hunter with potential for some moderate flooding that will come through the Lower Hunter as well," Ms Reid said.
The shift was expected to impact southern parts of the Hunter, the Blue Mountains and the Southern Highlands.
"There's one current minor flood warning for Tuggerah and we have one for the Hawkesbury-Nepean through the north-western parts of Sydney and the Colo River," Ms Reid said.
While there were none of the triple-figure rainfalls that have hit the Mid North Coast predicted, the Hunter could see falls between 50mm to 80mm heading into the weekend.
"It's basically that same batch of rain just coming back down again," Ms Reid said.
"Everything's already flooded, so it is definitely a case that those rivers are not yet steadied and there is the potential for renewed rises on all the Hunter rivers by the time we get to Saturday," she said.
Weather conditions are looking to clear by the weekend but with swollen and bursting catchments, there was no room for complacency.
"We will be needing to keep an eye on those river levels and the expectation of major flooding will continue into the weekend," she said.
In the past 24 hours to Thursday, the NSW SES had conducted 339 flood rescues and had over 1000 incidents reported.
NSW SES Commissioner Michael Wassing said on Thursday the next 48 hours were a key focus in terms of the pointy-end of response operations.
"We've still got weather that will continue into the weekend and potentially further weather; rainfall and wind into next week. We are playing for the long haul here," he said.
The community is urged to keep up to date with the Hazards Near Me app, listen to the advice of emergency services, and do not drive through flooded waters.
RENEWED rises in Hunter waterways and a fresh batch of heavy rain are expected to offer little respite to flood-struck parts of the region.
A batch of rain was expected to track back down the Hunter coast from midnight on Thursday, bringing heavy and intense rainfalls to the southern parts of the region.
It's the same low-pressure system that has caused flash flooding in the Mid North Coast.
While conditions may slightly ease, warnings remain in place for both regions as the flood risk refuses to pass.
The Bureau of Meteorology's Helen Reid said the focal point of rainfall that has stretched across the Lower Hunter and into areas like Wingham and Taree was expected to work its way further south from Thursday afternoon and overnight into Friday.
"We can expect to see conditions deteriorate again. It has been wet the whole time but now we'll get heavier rainfall, keeping minor flood warnings throughout the region," she said.
With half a metre of rain falling over the last three days, major flood warnings are in place for the Wollombi Brook and Bulga.
Renewed rises were expected for those waterways.
"The Wollombi Brook is possibly going to reach 6.7 metres and there is some minor flooding happening in the Upper Hunter with potential for some moderate flooding that will come through the Lower Hunter as well," Ms Reid said.
The shift was expected to impact southern parts of the Hunter, the Blue Mountains and the Southern Highlands.
"There's one current minor flood warning for Tuggerah and we have one for the Hawkesbury-Nepean through the north-western parts of Sydney and the Colo River," Ms Reid said.
While there were none of the triple-figure rainfalls that have hit the Mid North Coast predicted, the Hunter could see falls between 50mm to 80mm heading into the weekend.
"It's basically that same batch of rain just coming back down again," Ms Reid said.
"Everything's already flooded, so it is definitely a case that those rivers are not yet steadied and there is the potential for renewed rises on all the Hunter rivers by the time we get to Saturday," she said.
Weather conditions are looking to clear by the weekend but with swollen and bursting catchments, there was no room for complacency.
"We will be needing to keep an eye on those river levels and the expectation of major flooding will continue into the weekend," she said.
In the past 24 hours to Thursday, the NSW SES had conducted 339 flood rescues and had over 1000 incidents reported.
NSW SES Commissioner Michael Wassing said on Thursday the next 48 hours were a key focus in terms of the pointy-end of response operations.
"We've still got weather that will continue into the weekend and potentially further weather; rainfall and wind into next week. We are playing for the long haul here," he said.
The community is urged to keep up to date with the Hazards Near Me app, listen to the advice of emergency services, and do not drive through flooded waters.
RENEWED rises in Hunter waterways and a fresh batch of heavy rain are expected to offer little respite to flood-struck parts of the region.
A batch of rain was expected to track back down the Hunter coast from midnight on Thursday, bringing heavy and intense rainfalls to the southern parts of the region.
It's the same low-pressure system that has caused flash flooding in the Mid North Coast.
While conditions may slightly ease, warnings remain in place for both regions as the flood risk refuses to pass.
The Bureau of Meteorology's Helen Reid said the focal point of rainfall that has stretched across the Lower Hunter and into areas like Wingham and Taree was expected to work its way further south from Thursday afternoon and overnight into Friday.
"We can expect to see conditions deteriorate again. It has been wet the whole time but now we'll get heavier rainfall, keeping minor flood warnings throughout the region," she said.
With half a metre of rain falling over the last three days, major flood warnings are in place for the Wollombi Brook and Bulga.
Renewed rises were expected for those waterways.
"The Wollombi Brook is possibly going to reach 6.7 metres and there is some minor flooding happening in the Upper Hunter with potential for some moderate flooding that will come through the Lower Hunter as well," Ms Reid said.
The shift was expected to impact southern parts of the Hunter, the Blue Mountains and the Southern Highlands.
"There's one current minor flood warning for Tuggerah and we have one for the Hawkesbury-Nepean through the north-western parts of Sydney and the Colo River," Ms Reid said.
While there were none of the triple-figure rainfalls that have hit the Mid North Coast predicted, the Hunter could see falls between 50mm to 80mm heading into the weekend.
"It's basically that same batch of rain just coming back down again," Ms Reid said.
"Everything's already flooded, so it is definitely a case that those rivers are not yet steadied and there is the potential for renewed rises on all the Hunter rivers by the time we get to Saturday," she said.
Weather conditions are looking to clear by the weekend but with swollen and bursting catchments, there was no room for complacency.
"We will be needing to keep an eye on those river levels and the expectation of major flooding will continue into the weekend," she said.
In the past 24 hours to Thursday, the NSW SES had conducted 339 flood rescues and had over 1000 incidents reported.
NSW SES Commissioner Michael Wassing said on Thursday the next 48 hours were a key focus in terms of the pointy-end of response operations.
"We've still got weather that will continue into the weekend and potentially further weather; rainfall and wind into next week. We are playing for the long haul here," he said.
The community is urged to keep up to date with the Hazards Near Me app, listen to the advice of emergency services, and do not drive through flooded waters.
RENEWED rises in Hunter waterways and a fresh batch of heavy rain are expected to offer little respite to flood-struck parts of the region.
A batch of rain was expected to track back down the Hunter coast from midnight on Thursday, bringing heavy and intense rainfalls to the southern parts of the region.
It's the same low-pressure system that has caused flash flooding in the Mid North Coast.
While conditions may slightly ease, warnings remain in place for both regions as the flood risk refuses to pass.
The Bureau of Meteorology's Helen Reid said the focal point of rainfall that has stretched across the Lower Hunter and into areas like Wingham and Taree was expected to work its way further south from Thursday afternoon and overnight into Friday.
"We can expect to see conditions deteriorate again. It has been wet the whole time but now we'll get heavier rainfall, keeping minor flood warnings throughout the region," she said.
With half a metre of rain falling over the last three days, major flood warnings are in place for the Wollombi Brook and Bulga.
Renewed rises were expected for those waterways.
"The Wollombi Brook is possibly going to reach 6.7 metres and there is some minor flooding happening in the Upper Hunter with potential for some moderate flooding that will come through the Lower Hunter as well," Ms Reid said.
The shift was expected to impact southern parts of the Hunter, the Blue Mountains and the Southern Highlands.
"There's one current minor flood warning for Tuggerah and we have one for the Hawkesbury-Nepean through the north-western parts of Sydney and the Colo River," Ms Reid said.
While there were none of the triple-figure rainfalls that have hit the Mid North Coast predicted, the Hunter could see falls between 50mm to 80mm heading into the weekend.
"It's basically that same batch of rain just coming back down again," Ms Reid said.
"Everything's already flooded, so it is definitely a case that those rivers are not yet steadied and there is the potential for renewed rises on all the Hunter rivers by the time we get to Saturday," she said.
Weather conditions are looking to clear by the weekend but with swollen and bursting catchments, there was no room for complacency.
"We will be needing to keep an eye on those river levels and the expectation of major flooding will continue into the weekend," she said.
In the past 24 hours to Thursday, the NSW SES had conducted 339 flood rescues and had over 1000 incidents reported.
NSW SES Commissioner Michael Wassing said on Thursday the next 48 hours were a key focus in terms of the pointy-end of response operations.
"We've still got weather that will continue into the weekend and potentially further weather; rainfall and wind into next week. We are playing for the long haul here," he said.
The community is urged to keep up to date with the Hazards Near Me app, listen to the advice of emergency services, and do not drive through flooded waters.