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A huge band of rain is bringing heavy showers, thunderstorms and strong gusts across NSW as widespread flooding continues threatening landslides, flash floods and a washout at the Bathurst 1000.
In Sydney and inland New South Wales, drenched dams and water catchments will be tested by the intense downpour over the weekend, after Sydney surpassed its wettest year on record this week.
Much of Victoria and Queensland will also be in the firing line, with state emergency services cautioning against unnecessary travel.
It comes after heavy downpours cut off roads in Melbourne on Friday with the SES receiving more than 300 calls for help across Victoria.
Campers at the Bathurst 1000 have been warned of muddy, stormy and potentially dangerous conditions, with heavy falls predicted across Mount Panorama on Saturday and Sunday.
Strong winds and rainfall will continue to buffet the east coast of Australia, weather experts have warned (above, total rainfall forecast for the two days of the weekend)
Relentless rainfall in Australia’s east will continue even after Sydney (pictured) surpassed its wettest year ever recorded
Much of Victoria and Queensland will also be in the firing line, with state emergency services cautioning against unnecessary travel (pictured, flooded roads in Melbourne on Friday)
Up to 100mm could fall on the tens of thousands of fans expected to attend, potentially leading to flooding along the Macquarie River in Bathurst.
Free sandbags are available in the town, while volunteers are checking in with residents and tourists camping near the river.
NSW Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke told residents to ‘leave the racing to the professionals’ and take extra care on the roads.
The trough tracking over NSW towards the coast was developing on Saturday and was likely to bring intense rainfall and the risk of flash flooding, the Bureau of Meteorology’s Helen Kirkup said on Friday.
Six hourly rainfall totals of 30-50 millimetres are predicted in the Central Tablelands, the Hunter region and metropolitan Sydney, with isolated areas expected to receive up to 70mm.
After a soggy week in NSW, heavy falls on already saturated grounds would heighten the risk of landslides and debris falling across roads, Ms Kirkup said.
While the worst of the weather is forecast for Sydney, the Hunter region and the Central Tablelands, other areas can also expect rain.
The system is expected to blanket the state, with widespread showers forecast from the mid-north coast to the southern end of the state.
Damaging winds are forecast through the Sydney metropolitan and Illawarra coast on Saturday through to Sunday morning, with winds of 60-70km/h and peak gusts of more than 90km/h.
Wild weather comes after heavy downpours cut off roads in Melbourne on Friday with the SES receiving more than 300 calls for help across Victoria
Conditions will be tough on Mount Panorama with the deluge refusing to spare the Bathurst 1000
As rain continues to soak much of NSW, and flood peaks flow down already swollen rivers, the bureau has warned of a widespread risk of significant riverine flooding for multiple inland catchments.
Major flooding is occurring along the Macquarie, Darling, Culgoa and Lachlan rivers.
Renewed flooding is a risk at inland and coastal catchments including the Gwydir, Namoi, Macquarie and Belubula rivers, Mandagery Creek, the Lachlan and Bogan rivers, Colo River, Wollombi Brook and Lower Hunter rivers.
State emergency operations controller Peter Cotter asked that the community work with emergency services and follow any directions they were given.
A dread-inspiring weather map has revealed the 400km stretch of Australian coast set to be hammered by a megastorm bringing more flooding hell for NSW locals
‘Those in flood-prone areas are urged to avoid essential travel and drive to the conditions on the roads,’ he said.
‘Please obey road closures and remember, if it’s flooded, forget it.’
Victoria SES asked Victorians to prepare for the impacts of flooding.
‘Being well-prepared can reduce the impacts of flooding by up to 80%.’
‘VICSES volunteers also ask Victorians to avoid flooded roads, and to avoid driving during heavy downpours. Floodwater rescues put our volunteers at risk let alone the dangers to those in the vehicle.’
The Bureau of Meteorology in Queensland said the weather system posed ‘primary hazards of damaging winds, large hail, heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding possible. Storms possible in western QLD and southern interior.’
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