Storms in Sydney

[MorningSong]

Any live reports from our Avalon family down under?


Storms destroy homes as floods swamp NSW
6:51pm February 24, 2013

Gale force winds have wreaked havoc across Sydney and the NSW south coast, while around 20,000 people are isolated by floodwaters in the state's north.

The SES received more than 4000 calls for assistance overnight, including around 2000 in Sydney, where 100km/h winds resulted in an asbestos scare.

In the city's southeast, savage gusts extensively damaged the roof of the RSL club in Malabar, causing sheets of asbestos to fly onto nearby homes and roads.

A number of streets were blocked off by Fire and Rescue NSW crews on Sunday, as private contractors were tasked with cleaning up the area.

Residents were told not to panic about air contamination but to contact the NSW Environment Protection Authority if they noticed asbestos near their homes or backyards.

"It was an asbestos roof and to be concentrated like that in an area is of some concern but there is no need for residents to be concerned that the air they breathe is contaminated," Superintendent Paul Bailey told Fairfax Media.

Elsewhere in Sydney's east, locals described wind gusts that felt like "mini tornadoes", which damaged a primary school and tore part of the roof off Fox Studios.

The SES also responded to around 400 calls on the south coast, where Kiama was the hardest hit, SES spokeswoman Becky Collings said.

"We had three homes that were completely written off, and seven others that suffered significant damage," she told AAP.

"We had a lot of trees down and roof damage."

Also on the south coast, seven campers were rescued by a helicopter on Sunday morning from their camping site beside the Clyde River near Ulladulla after they were stranded by rising waters.

It was one of 70 rescues carried out by the SES since the heavy rain and flooding began on Friday.

In the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, police and paramedics worked together to successfully locate three separate groups of bushwalkers who got lost in the extreme weather conditions.

Meanwhile, around 20,000 people isolated in the state's north - from the north coast to the mid-north coast - could remain cut off for up to a week.

"It really just depends how quickly the water can drain away," Ms Collings told AAP.

She said evacuation orders remained in place on the mid-north coast around the Macleay and Hastings rivers.

Properties at Port Macquarie were flooding on Sunday morning as the Hastings River swelled to its expected peak of 1.8 metres.

The Macleay River at Kempsey peaked at 7m on Sunday near the town's CBD, about 30 centimetres below expectations.

"A lot of the shops and homes have avoided inundation," Ms Collings said, but some parts of the town were under a metre of water on Sunday morning.

Townships on both the upper and lower Macleay remain isolated but were beginning to drop.

With calmer weather in many parts of the state on Sunday, the SES said its focus in the next 24 hours would be on recovery.

"The weather conditions have eased somewhat, so that will mean we can hopefully get through the rest of our jobs," Ms Collings said.

Flood warnings from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) remain in place for 16 river systems across the state.

Power supplier Ausgrid said about 6,500 homes remained without power, mainly in Sydney's north and east and on the central coast, while Essential Energy estimated a there were a further 8,000 homes across Greater Western Sydney, the Illawarra, the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven.

Two people have died in the floods.

On Saturday afternoon, the body of a man was found in his submerged car on a flooded road at Mylneford, about 20km northwest of Grafton.

On Friday, a 17-year-old boy died after he was swept into a drainpipe while collecting golf balls in waist-deep water in the town of Kew, near Port Macquarie.


http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2013/02/24/08/01/river-breaches-levee-flooding-kempsey

[Craig]

I am up on the north coast and it was very wet n windy. I did see a grand old tree snapped in half so I went over to my mothers house and redug her garden whist the soil was soft start the life process again

[witchy1]

They are apparently evacuating some places. MSM doesnt seem to have too many photos, all I have got are from fb - it looks pretty damaging.
Smithtown from the air


https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/s480x480/75526_10151325197654366_1326987220_n.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151325197654366&set=a.58929774365.71255.605539365&type=1&relevant_count=1&ref=nf)
And Welcome to Surfer's Paradise Queensland ! Enjoy yoru stay Before We Wash Away



https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/c123.0.403.403/p403x403/602000_10151323234954366_81430568_n.jpg (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151323234954366&set=a.58929774365.71255.605539365&type=1&relevant_count=1)

Kempsey has been hit hard.
.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/c0.0.843.403/p843x403/306191_515066835212117_1487990709_n.jpg
(https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=515066835212117&set=a.237135653005238.75674.230392450346225&type=1&relevant_count=1)

[ghostrider]

sending some love to all our friends down under... hang in there...

[Ellisa]

And meanwhile here, on the southern-most tip of the continent we have had just 4 days with measurable rainfall (10 ml) since the start of the year! One good result has been hardly any ants, mosquitos and no flies!!! But the garden is a wasteland. We could yet be grateful we have a huge desalination water plant that is nearly ready to go!

Sydney has had a dreadful time this summer- the weather has been much more like Brisbane's weather, with a real 'wet' season. Buckets of rain and high humidity. In fact it's tropical weather, and Sydney is not in the tropics.

The weather recently is certainly not running true to type, with many records broken in the last year or so. Could it be climate change is a reality, or is it just a change in the weather, and we have to wait 50 years or so to find out that this is the time when we could have done something effective to alleviate the situation?

[jackovesk]

Yep, its getting worse by the day...:yes4:

200 - 300 millilitres is expected to be dumped along the East Coast within the next couple of days...

There is a possible Cat.4 Cyclone/Hurricane forming off the NW Coast of Western Australia (Port Headland) and is expected to hit within the next couple of days....

20572
http://www.bom.gov.au/products/national_radar_sat.loop.shtml


The wild-seas have been bombarding the Gold Coast and the rich-folk on Cavill Ave must be 'Shyting-Themselves'...:scared: as they witness their $Million front yards eroding away right before their very eyes...:shocked:

Brisbane is flooding again in low-lying areas, as too is Rockhampton & (Surrounding Areas) who just got over a massive flood 1 month ago...

We've had mini-Tornadoes both out at sea and inland that have decimated certain areas of the East Coast...

PS - Remember the 26,000 year 'Planetary Alignment' which began on (21st Dec 2012)...?

Well that is what is causing this mayhem...:yes4:

Expect the 'Unexpected' for there is far worse to come, not only in Oz but all around the world..!

Be prepared...

[Ellisa]

Certainly the weather has ben extreme all over the world recently.

Melbourne has broken a heat record today--- for the first time ever- 15 consecutive days above 30c. Perth, of course earlier in the year, had a week over 40c. Maybe you are right jack-- 26,000 years has to be significant, and something odd is happening.

We need to take notice and plan-- and possibly NOT re-build brisbane and Kempsey on a well-known, there since the dawn of time, flood plain! The inland tsanami last year though was an event no one could have predicted, in my opinion.

What next? Snow in Darwin?

[markoid]

North coast of New South Wales here... clocked winds of 230 kmh in Ballina. I live in a caravan, on a ridgetop and exposed to the south where the wind was coming from. Walls in my van were flexing a good 30mm at least, and I thought I may achieve liftoff a few times :) Scarey stuff but survived without too much damage.

Here is a screenshot from the radar on Friday while it was happening. I put red arrows to show a couple of (what looked to me like) a couple of wierd straight line formations that appeared be 'pulsing', but that could have been just the radar (animated) loop.

http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr312/markoid2008/storm-radar.jpg

[Anchor]

This weekend I was out more west, (about an hour to the east south east of Orange on markoid's map above) it was remarkably windy there, but it seems I had missed the rain in the blue mountains (more than the monthly average in one day) and Lithgow by when the time came for my drive home.

[enfoldedblue]

Hi
We are in Coffs harbour and it has been crazy weather....craziest wind I've ever seen. We were without power for three days. Still no internet only ph access. Had a HUGE tree fall over road so could not leave until Tom and neighbors worked with chainsaws and winches to get it out. And the room downstairs is flooded again! I need some sun and dry air.
Stay safe everyone.

[bennycog]

I can see the weather not only here but across the globe getting very much worse.. I mean a lot worse.. just one of the things we will have to contend with.. what we're you doing near orange anchor? I would have said visit me but I'm out in the desert of south oz for another couple of weeks..

[Anchor]

I can see the weather not only here but across the globe getting very much worse.. I mean a lot worse.. just one of the things we will have to contend with.. what we're you doing near orange anchor? I would have said visit me but I'm out in the desert of south oz for another couple of weeks..

Weekend I work on my olive farm. I think I told you about it on skype - I don't want to pin down the exact location on the forum ;)

I've only been in Aus since 2007, and it was just getting toward the end of a drought. Now the weather is a surprise all the time.

[heysoulsister]

Hey all...
Be safe, Be sensible, and stay calm.

Here's some farmers "knowledge" (we become experts at learning the weather - and not trusting the weather man, who these days, doesn't know how to watch anything other than the computer monitor to predict what is happening)

So here is our advice --- we are coming up to a full moon, so if any other Aussies (like us) are currently under a rain system, please be prepared.
Leading up to upon and just after a full moon can "hold" a weather system over the area that its on, it can even push it backwards (This applies to storms as well - pretty much any front system and to a lesser degree a low system)

Also learn where your rain, storms "normally" come from... here they track in from the west/northwest or west, south west - if we ever see a storm tracking from the East back towards us, we RUN to batten down the hatches as we know that it will be a violent wind/hail/rain storm.

*sighs* pulls out the gumboots, raincoats etc. High tide! for inland South East Queensland

[onawah]

Thinking of you all Down Under and envisioning you safe, warm and dry.
Hoping you will be back on the Net soon and checking in here with us here again as usual.
Hoping it will soon be sunny and clear skies again.

Hi
We are in Coffs harbour and it has been crazy weather....craziest wind I've ever seen. We were without power for three days. Still no internet only ph access. Had a HUGE tree fall over road so could not leave until Tom and neighbors worked with chainsaws and winches to get it out. And the room downstairs is flooded again! I need some sun and dry air.
Stay safe everyone.

[jackovesk]

Cyclone Rusty is a Category 4

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Western Australia
Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre

Media: Transmitters serving the area between Wallal and Whim Creek are
requested to USE the Standard Emergency Warning Signal before broadcasting the
following warning.

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 32
Issued at 11:54 am WST on Wednesday 27 February 2013

A Cyclone WARNING is current for coastal areas from Bidyadanga to Dampier
including Port Hedland, Karratha and Dampier, and adjacent inland areas of the
Pilbara, including Marble Bar, Nullagine, Millstream, Tom Price, Telfer and
Newman.

A Cyclone WATCH is current for remaining central and eastern areas of the
Pilbara including Paraburdoo, Three Rivers and adjacent parts of the Gascoyne
district and the Interior.

http://www.bom.gov.au/fwo/IDA00041.png?1361939365

At 11:00 am WST Severe Tropical Cyclone Rusty, Category 4 was estimated to be
125 kilometres northeast of Port Hedland and
190 kilometres north of Marble Bar and is moving southeast at 5 kilometres per
hour towards the coast.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Rusty has started to take a southeasterly track over
the last few hours. During the afternoon it is expected to take a more
southerly track as it moves towards the Pilbara coast.

Gales are occuring on the coast between Sandfire Roadhouse and Whim Creek and
will extend inland towards Marble Bar during today, and may reach Nullagine
overnight.

DESTRUCTIVE winds with gusts in excess of 125 kilometres per hour are occuring
along the coast in the vicinity of De Grey and Pardoo, and could reach Marble
Bar overnight.

VERY DESTRUCTIVE winds with gusts in excess of 165 kilometres per hour are
likely in the vicinity of De Grey and Pardoo during the afternoon and evening
as Severe Tropical Cyclone Rusty approaches the coast.

Widespread very heavy rainfall today and on Thursday is likely to lead to MAJOR
FLOODING in the De Grey catchment. Significant flooding is also possible in the
Fortescue catchment and in Pilbara coastal streams.

People on the coast between Wallal and De Grey are warned of the potential for
a VERY DANGEROUS STORM TIDE as the system approaches the coast. Tides are
likely to rise significantly above the normal high tide mark with DAMAGING
WAVES and VERY DANGEROUS COASTAL INUNDATION.

DFES State Emergency Service (SES) advises of the following community alerts:

RED ALERT: People in or near communities between Pardoo and Whim Creek,
including Port Hedland and South Hedland should remain in shelter.

YELLOW ALERT: People in communities between Wallal and Pardoo, extending inland
to Marble Bar and Nullagine need to take action and get ready to shelter from a
cyclone.

BLUE ALERT: People in communities between Bidyadanga and Wallal and between
Whim Creek and Dampier, including Karratha and extending to inland areas
including Millstream, need to prepare for cyclonic weather and organise an
emergency kit including first aid kit, torch, portable radio, spare batteries,
food and water.

ALL CLEAR: People in communities from Mardie to Dampier are advised that the
cyclone danger has passed.


Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Rusty at 11:00 am WST:

.Centre located near...... 19.5 degrees South 119.4 degrees East
.Location accuracy........ within 30 kilometres
.Recent movement.......... towards the southeast at 5 kilometres per hour
.Wind gusts near centre... 230 kilometres per hour and weakening
.Severity category........ 4
.Central pressure......... 945 hectoPascals

The next advice will be issued by 3:00 pm WST Wednesday 27 February.

Cyclone advices and State Emergency Service Community Alerts are available by
dialling 1300 659 210

A map showing the track of the cyclone is available at:

http://www.bom.gov.au/radar/IDR00004.jpg?20130227042504

http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone

[Positive Vibe Merchant]

Yeah, Rusty is going to give them a good rattling on the way through, that is for sure!