Sydney Deluged by Heavy Rainfall Overnight
Sydney has been smashed with heavy rain overnight, with more than 100mm falling at multiple locations across the city before 10am on Friday. The deluge sparked more than 600 calls for help, with the State Emergency Service carrying out over 450 jobs, including swift water rescues throughout the metropolitan area.
Record Rainfall Figures Across Sydney
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, Abbotsford in Sydney received 134mm, Lidcombe recorded 122mm, while Mona Vale and Avalon both got 103mm. Bankstown and Canterbury recorded over 70mm in the 24 hours to 9am on Friday morning. This intense rainfall led to significant flooding in carparks and roadways across the city, causing disruptions and safety concerns.
Widespread Impact Across Eastern Australia
The heavy rainfall was not confined to Sydney. In south east Queensland, the Sunshine Coast recorded up to 80mm of rain overnight. Meanwhile, parts of south west Queensland experienced substantial downpours, with Birdsville receiving 35mm in less than 24 hours and a nearby cattle station recording 50mm. This comes on top of a 93mm rainfall total recorded in the previous 24 hours.
Senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury highlighted the severity, stating, "To put this into context, the average annual total in Birdsville is only about 163mm, meaning this location has almost matched this annual average in the last 48 hours alone."
Flood Warnings and Community Isolation
The Flinders and Georgina Rivers in Queensland are already flooding and are of particular concern, with major flood warnings in place for Friday. In the outback and central Australia, flooded rivers are causing road closures, significant detours, and community isolation. Bradbury warned, "Some communities may not be connected by roads again for weeks."
Almost all river catchments through the Northern Territory and South Australia are under a flood watch. South Australia will be the focal point for the heaviest falls on Friday, with rain and storms expected to spread across the state. Adelaide is bracing for one of the wettest weekends in more than a decade, with predictions of up to 120mm of rain in one day.
Unusual Weather Patterns and Long-Term Implications
Bradbury noted that this rainfall is unusual for southern states, explaining, "Rain of this intensity is unusual this far south, as it’s rare that weather systems will drag so much tropical moisture into the southern states. Some places may see 24-hour rainfall which is the heaviest in a number of years, and we couldn’t rule out setting rainfall records."
She added that while this rain will help areas experiencing long-term rainfall deficiencies in southern South Australia and western Victoria, it is unlikely to account for all the missing rain from the past two to three years.
Continued Rainfall Forecast Across Multiple States
Widespread rain is expected to continue over the weekend, with some places forecast to receive over 100mm total. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, some areas may experience not only the wettest days this year but the wettest in several years. Victoria will also see significant rain over the weekend, with dry northern areas expected to get a drenching. The rain system is predicted to linger longest over Victoria before moving off around Tuesday.
Residents across affected regions are urged to stay informed and prepare for potential flooding as this severe weather event unfolds.
