Flood risk continues across south east Australia
Liam Dutton
Weather Presenter
A large part of south east Australia faces a continued flood risk during the next few days as more heavy rain is expected to fall.
In New South Wales alone, an area equivalent to the size of France is either under water or at risk from being so, after 16 river systems flooded following heavy rain during the past week.
Neighbouring Victoria and Queensland have also been affected, with farmland and towns left under water. The downpours and subsequent flooding have forced the closure of bridges and roads, with significant disruption to travel.
Around 10,000 people have been left with no choice other than to flee their homes in order to escape the floods.
With more rain to come, attention has now turned to the New South Wales town of Wagga Wagga, 475km south west of Sydney, where 9,000 people have been evacuated – 65 per cent of the town’s population.
The concern lies with the Murrumbidgee River which runs through the town. River levels are expected to peak at 10.9 metres, which would make it the highest peak since 1853.
A large-scale operation is underway by the Australian Defence Force, State Emergency Service (SES) and police in order to protect the town. Local media are reporting that the flooding could be the worst the area has seen in around 40 years.
James McTavish from the New South Wales State Emergency Service, said: “It is a very significant emergency. We do have grave concerns for people’s safety right across the region.”
The Australia Bureau of Meteorology had a number of flood warnings in force on Tuesday and warned of the threat of further intense rain and thunderstorms for Victoria and New South Wales on Wednesday.
La Nina has been blamed for the heavy rain and flooding. When La Nina occurs, it causes the sea temperatures along the east coast of Australia to be much higher than normal.
This warms the bottom of the atmosphere and makes more energy available to fuel rain bearing weather systems and thunderstorms – enhancing the amount of rain that falls and increasing the risk of flooding.
However, some respite is in sight from the rain, with high pressure likely to build across the flood affected areas at the end of the week, giving drier weather for at least a few days.