Where the rain is going to hit next: severe weather warnings move south

The Advertiser

22-05-2025

Persistent, drenching rain that has so far claimed the lives of two people in floodwaters is sliding south and is expected to soak the Southern Highlands, Blue Mountains and southern Hunter.
May rainfall records have been broken in parts of the mid north coast of NSW, including in some areas where nearly half a metre fell in less than a week.
While widespread flooding continues even as the rain eases on the coast, the weather system is shifting south and inland, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
A severe warning for heavy, intense rainfall has been issued for the southern Hunter, Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands and flash flooding is possible from early on May 23.
A flood watch is also in place for catchments from the Central Coast to the south coast.
"It's all sliding to the south and because of that, the rain will also be moving southwards," bureau senior meteorologist Angus Hines said.
Six hourly rainfall totals of between 60mm and 90mm were possible and more than 130mm could fall over 24 hours in some parts.
"All of those southern districts in the state will be getting some rain, if not already, then by the end of the day," he said.
Two people have died so far in floodwaters, including a man in his 30s found at Rosewood, near Wauchope, and a 63-year-old man at Moto, north east of Taree.
Another two people were still missing on the afternoon of May 22 - at Grafton and Dorrigo - while some rivers were still rising.
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) had issued 151 active warnings by 4pm, more than 30 of them at emergency level.
Since the rain event began nearly a week ago, the SES had responded to about 4000 incidents, including 500 flood rescues.
Flooding had closed the Pacific Highway in both directions between Coopernook and Purfleet, near Taree, while fewer trains were running on the Hunter line.
The Oxley Highway was closed between Thrumster and Wauchope, as well as at Rosewood, Long Flat and Mount Seaview, the NSW Transport Management Centre said.
While rain on the mid north coast would finally ease in the evening of May 22, the danger from flooding and higher levels remained, NSW Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib said.
"We are sending in all our available emergency service resources to support the impacted region," he said in a statement.
"Please check the NSW SES website and Hazards Near Me app and follow public safety advice."
The Bureau of Meteorology expects the weather system dumping rain to be on its last legs by the evening of May 23.
"But early next week we get a very different type of weather system sweeping through NSW," meteorologist Angus Hines said.
"This is going to be moving up from the south west and the primary impact with that is likely to be the strong to damaging winds that it spreads throughout the entire state.
"So getting very windy on Monday next week."
SES 132 500
Triple zero 000
Service NSW 13 77 88
Bureau of Meteorology warnings
Persistent, drenching rain that has so far claimed the lives of two people in floodwaters is sliding south and is expected to soak the Southern Highlands, Blue Mountains and southern Hunter.
May rainfall records have been broken in parts of the mid north coast of NSW, including in some areas where nearly half a metre fell in less than a week.
While widespread flooding continues even as the rain eases on the coast, the weather system is shifting south and inland, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
A severe warning for heavy, intense rainfall has been issued for the southern Hunter, Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands and flash flooding is possible from early on May 23.
A flood watch is also in place for catchments from the Central Coast to the south coast.
"It's all sliding to the south and because of that, the rain will also be moving southwards," bureau senior meteorologist Angus Hines said.
Six hourly rainfall totals of between 60mm and 90mm were possible and more than 130mm could fall over 24 hours in some parts.
"All of those southern districts in the state will be getting some rain, if not already, then by the end of the day," he said.
Two people have died so far in floodwaters, including a man in his 30s found at Rosewood, near Wauchope, and a 63-year-old man at Moto, north east of Taree.
Another two people were still missing on the afternoon of May 22 - at Grafton and Dorrigo - while some rivers were still rising.
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) had issued 151 active warnings by 4pm, more than 30 of them at emergency level.
Since the rain event began nearly a week ago, the SES had responded to about 4000 incidents, including 500 flood rescues.
Flooding had closed the Pacific Highway in both directions between Coopernook and Purfleet, near Taree, while fewer trains were running on the Hunter line.
The Oxley Highway was closed between Thrumster and Wauchope, as well as at Rosewood, Long Flat and Mount Seaview, the NSW Transport Management Centre said.
While rain on the mid north coast would finally ease in the evening of May 22, the danger from flooding and higher levels remained, NSW Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib said.
"We are sending in all our available emergency service resources to support the impacted region," he said in a statement.
"Please check the NSW SES website and Hazards Near Me app and follow public safety advice."
The Bureau of Meteorology expects the weather system dumping rain to be on its last legs by the evening of May 23.
"But early next week we get a very different type of weather system sweeping through NSW," meteorologist Angus Hines said.
"This is going to be moving up from the south west and the primary impact with that is likely to be the strong to damaging winds that it spreads throughout the entire state.
"So getting very windy on Monday next week."
SES 132 500
Triple zero 000
Service NSW 13 77 88
Bureau of Meteorology warnings
Persistent, drenching rain that has so far claimed the lives of two people in floodwaters is sliding south and is expected to soak the Southern Highlands, Blue Mountains and southern Hunter.
May rainfall records have been broken in parts of the mid north coast of NSW, including in some areas where nearly half a metre fell in less than a week.
While widespread flooding continues even as the rain eases on the coast, the weather system is shifting south and inland, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
A severe warning for heavy, intense rainfall has been issued for the southern Hunter, Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands and flash flooding is possible from early on May 23.
A flood watch is also in place for catchments from the Central Coast to the south coast.
"It's all sliding to the south and because of that, the rain will also be moving southwards," bureau senior meteorologist Angus Hines said.
Six hourly rainfall totals of between 60mm and 90mm were possible and more than 130mm could fall over 24 hours in some parts.
"All of those southern districts in the state will be getting some rain, if not already, then by the end of the day," he said.
Two people have died so far in floodwaters, including a man in his 30s found at Rosewood, near Wauchope, and a 63-year-old man at Moto, north east of Taree.
Another two people were still missing on the afternoon of May 22 - at Grafton and Dorrigo - while some rivers were still rising.
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) had issued 151 active warnings by 4pm, more than 30 of them at emergency level.
Since the rain event began nearly a week ago, the SES had responded to about 4000 incidents, including 500 flood rescues.
Flooding had closed the Pacific Highway in both directions between Coopernook and Purfleet, near Taree, while fewer trains were running on the Hunter line.
The Oxley Highway was closed between Thrumster and Wauchope, as well as at Rosewood, Long Flat and Mount Seaview, the NSW Transport Management Centre said.
While rain on the mid north coast would finally ease in the evening of May 22, the danger from flooding and higher levels remained, NSW Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib said.
"We are sending in all our available emergency service resources to support the impacted region," he said in a statement.
"Please check the NSW SES website and Hazards Near Me app and follow public safety advice."
The Bureau of Meteorology expects the weather system dumping rain to be on its last legs by the evening of May 23.
"But early next week we get a very different type of weather system sweeping through NSW," meteorologist Angus Hines said.
"This is going to be moving up from the south west and the primary impact with that is likely to be the strong to damaging winds that it spreads throughout the entire state.
"So getting very windy on Monday next week."
SES 132 500
Triple zero 000
Service NSW 13 77 88
Bureau of Meteorology warnings
Persistent, drenching rain that has so far claimed the lives of two people in floodwaters is sliding south and is expected to soak the Southern Highlands, Blue Mountains and southern Hunter.
May rainfall records have been broken in parts of the mid north coast of NSW, including in some areas where nearly half a metre fell in less than a week.
While widespread flooding continues even as the rain eases on the coast, the weather system is shifting south and inland, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
A severe warning for heavy, intense rainfall has been issued for the southern Hunter, Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands and flash flooding is possible from early on May 23.
A flood watch is also in place for catchments from the Central Coast to the south coast.
"It's all sliding to the south and because of that, the rain will also be moving southwards," bureau senior meteorologist Angus Hines said.
Six hourly rainfall totals of between 60mm and 90mm were possible and more than 130mm could fall over 24 hours in some parts.
"All of those southern districts in the state will be getting some rain, if not already, then by the end of the day," he said.
Two people have died so far in floodwaters, including a man in his 30s found at Rosewood, near Wauchope, and a 63-year-old man at Moto, north east of Taree.
Another two people were still missing on the afternoon of May 22 - at Grafton and Dorrigo - while some rivers were still rising.
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) had issued 151 active warnings by 4pm, more than 30 of them at emergency level.
Since the rain event began nearly a week ago, the SES had responded to about 4000 incidents, including 500 flood rescues.
Flooding had closed the Pacific Highway in both directions between Coopernook and Purfleet, near Taree, while fewer trains were running on the Hunter line.
The Oxley Highway was closed between Thrumster and Wauchope, as well as at Rosewood, Long Flat and Mount Seaview, the NSW Transport Management Centre said.
While rain on the mid north coast would finally ease in the evening of May 22, the danger from flooding and higher levels remained, NSW Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib said.
"We are sending in all our available emergency service resources to support the impacted region," he said in a statement.
"Please check the NSW SES website and Hazards Near Me app and follow public safety advice."
The Bureau of Meteorology expects the weather system dumping rain to be on its last legs by the evening of May 23.
"But early next week we get a very different type of weather system sweeping through NSW," meteorologist Angus Hines said.
"This is going to be moving up from the south west and the primary impact with that is likely to be the strong to damaging winds that it spreads throughout the entire state.
"So getting very windy on Monday next week."
SES 132 500
Triple zero 000
Service NSW 13 77 88
Bureau of Meteorology warnings