In short:
Rainfall is already breaking records on the NSW north coast.
The SES is asking people to prepare their homes and check their emergency plans as a trough moves along the Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast.
What’s next?
Predictions are that another 100mm could fall in the state’s north across Wednesday before the trough moves offshore.
Record-breaking rain has fallen in northern New South Wales as emergency services prepare for further falls in an already soaked catchment.
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.
Bungawalbin flower farmer Suellen Thompson is watching every drop that falls on her precious petals.
“Probably 200mms is too much for any flower to be happy,” Mrs Thompson said.
“We had to race out and pick early, so we’ve got some damaged flowers but at least it has stopped for now.”
She is concerned about what further rainfall could do to the farm.
“The water we received in the last two days has soaked into the ground fairly quickly but we are concerned if we get more it’s going to sit around,” she said.
“So, we might look at picking more and putting structures [up] to see if we can save a few more.
“We’ve got raised [flower] beds, we know this happens and we just have to keep soldiering on.”
SES on standby
The SES wanted to instil a calm confidence ahead of the expected deluge.
“All of our teams have undertaken significant training,” Superintendent Scott Mclennan said.
“We have more flood texts, more boats, more life jackets, we are very well prepared.
“The more the community can do to prevent themselves from being rescued [the] better. Be prepared, take action now.”
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