© Joanne ShoebridgeWater over Wyrallah Road on the NSW north coast.
On Monday, Evans Head broke the daily record for August with 157mm, the highest August daily rainfall in 28 years, according to meteorologist Jiwon Park from the Bureau of Meteorology.
"This event so far has brought more than 200mm in several stations in the northern rivers," he said.
"Goonengerry received more than 247mm in two days."
A coastal trough is expected to extend from Queensland to the NSW north coast on Tuesday evening and the SES is warning the state's north to be prepared as further rain begins to fall.
"We are expecting another rain band to come through with higher flood warnings and higher rainfall totals, so we could expect more than 100mm over the next 24 to 48 hours," NSW SES Superintendent Scott Mclennan said.
NSW SES has attended more than 130 incidents in the state's north-east over the past day, including three rescues of people who tried to drive through floodwater.
"These three particular incidents were known flash-flooding hotspots where people have taken the decision to drive through moving water," Superintendent Mclennan said.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a flood watch for the Tweed, Brunswick and Bellinger Rivers from Wednesday.
Minor flood warnings are current for the Wilsons and Orara Rivers.
The trough is expected to shift offshore on Thursday.
The SES has asked people to prepare, know their emergency plan and stay off the roads if possible, particularly at night time.
"If you have to travel in the next 48 hours, really revise if that travel is necessary, particularly as that rain starts to come down tonight," Superintendent Mclennan said.
Farmers affected
The heavy rainfall has halted the harvest of cane crops with some growers reporting more than 300mm.
With more rain forecast, and a bumper crop expected in parts, the chairman of NSW Canegrowers Association, is concerned.
"There will be high mud levels going into the mills and extra rain will dilute the sugar content," Ross Farlow said.
Reader Comments
Ballina, NSW received 256mm in August 2024 thus far (till the 20th). The long-term average August rainfall is about 75mm.
This is but one example of the vastly anomalous August rainfall. Many other towns experienced something similar. Once August is over you’ll be able to see what percentile the rainfall fell into. It’s probably something like the 90th percentile.