East coast braces for 'renewed flood risk' as thunderstorms move in

NSW and Queensland, still saturated from recent floods, face another round of inundation as early as tomorrow after the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) today issued a severe weather waning for at-risk areas.

Parts of Victoria are also bracing for similar rough weather this week, the BOM said.

The national weather agency says the coming rain is likely to lead to renewed river level rises across many already flooded rivers in NSW, Victoria, and southern Queensland, with widespread moderate to major flooding likely across inland NSW.

It says flood watches will be issued for many river catchments in NSW and Victoria, and some river catchments in southern Queensland and Tasmania ahead of anticipated rainfall that will lead to widespread flooding.

“Severe weather warnings are current for heavy rainfall across parts of Queensland and NSW and northern Victoria,” Senior Meteorologist Dean Narramore said.

“This rainfall is likely to lead to widespread flooding across many of our rivers across NSW and also northern Victoria, but [it] is NSW where we could see widespread moderate to major flooding later this week into the weekend.”

The BOM says rain and thunderstorms will increase tonight across south-west Queensland, western NSW and north-west Victoria, before sweeping across southern Queensland, much of NSW and northern Victoria tomorrow with widespread moderate to heavy falls.

“Severe thunderstorms are likely on Wednesday, with heavy rain being the main risk, primarily around south-west Queensland and western NSW,” the BOM says.

Across southern Queensland, inland NSW and northern Victoria, widespread daily rainfall totals of 20-40 mm are expected tomorrow.

The BOM expects by Thursday the heaviest rainfall will be around south-east NSW, the NSW South Coast, north-east Victoria and elevated northern Tasmania.

From Thursday night into Friday, the BOM says rain and thunderstorms – which could be severe – will rapidly develop through central NSW and Victoria as the cold front approaches and then moves into eastern Victoria and NSW on the eve of Saturday.

“Many communities that recently experienced flooding or are currently in flood will likely see rivers rise in the coming week,” Mr Narramore said. “The ground remains saturated, and any additional rainfall will cause streams and rivers to rise.”