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Storms have begun to clear up from Australia’s east coast after several days of heavy rain, but the region is not yet out of the forest with gale-force winds expected and flood warnings are still in effect.
High winds are predicted to destroy NSW on Sunday as the low-pressure system that forced people from their homes and triggered 21 flood rescues eventually goes to sea.
But the onset of a 2,500km rain tire is expected to begin forming in central Western Australia Tuesday evening.
The band is expected to move eastwards early Wednesday morning, bringing light to moderate showers to southeastern WA and southern South Australia.
Wednesday afternoon the low will extend completely from south WA, through SA, and across all of Victoria to sit on central and south NSW.
A 2500km rain tire (above) is forecast to cover parts of WA, SA, NSW and Victoria from Tuesday
On Thursday morning, moderate to heavy rain is forecast to fall in those regions with central NSW and northern Victoria most likely to survive.
“There is a chance that more than 100mm will fall. The central west and northwest of the state should receive lighter dips, but still enough to cause significant flooding,” Weatherzone meteorologist Bob Neil said.
The NSW SES ordered people staying at the Western Plains Tourist Park in Dubbo to evacuate Sunday morning due to flooding.
Evacuation orders are also in effect for Gronos Point and Oura Beach Camping Area.
Several other watersheds are still at risk of flooding as rainwater from this week’s torrential rains, with some areas collecting 100mm in just three days, continues to drain.
Torrential rain in NSW and Victoria is expected to clear on Sunday before another system goes into effect on Wednesday (pictured, race goers in Sydney on Saturday)
About 90mm fell in the central NSW town of Dubbo, bringing the annual total to about 880mm at its highest level in 49 years. It’s just 10mm away from registering the wettest year since 1950.
NSW Prime Minister Dominic Perrottet urged people not to drive in floodwaters as already saturated catchments and rivers continue to overflow from the latest downpour.
“Don’t endanger your life, your family or our volunteers,” he said.
Due to the closure of several flooded roads and ongoing warnings, many Supercars fans headed home early from the Bathurst 1000 on Saturday.
Yesterday’s downpour in the small west-central town caused the race’s Top 10 Shootout to be canceled for the first time in Bathurst history.
This week’s rain is expected to clear on Sunday and little to no rain is expected in Bathurst during the Supercars race (pictured, rain in NSW)
Heavy rain canceled Saturday’s Bathurst 1000 Top 10 Shootout, the first time the qualifying race has been canceled in race history (pictured, the Bathurst track on Saturday)
Thick mud soon reached all of the event’s parking lots and walkways, causing several vehicles to become trapped.
The situation was even worse at campsites with lots of revelers with flooded and muddy pitches.
Conditions for those in attendance are expected to deteriorate on Sunday with heavy foot traffic silting up the still soggy ground.
Fortunately, race day appears to be mostly clear and free from the slippery conditions that took several cars in yesterday’s qualifying.
The Bathurst 1000’s parking lots, walkways and campsites were covered in thick mud on Saturday (above) and conditions were expected to deteriorate due to heavy foot traffic on Sunday
Sydneysiders will be able to avoid most of next week’s rain after three heavy rain systems stormed NSW’s central coast (pictured, race goers in Sydney on Saturday)
Cars were stalled and campsites flooded after heavy rain at Saturday’s Bathurst 1000 (pictured, one of the race’s swampy car parks)
NSW SES has ordered three communities to evacuate and several flood warnings around the state as this week’s stormwater continues to drain (shown, a flood warning map)
Fortunately for Sydneysiders, the port city will dodge most of the rain with showers not expected until next Friday.
Brisbane should see the last seven days of rain this Sunday with a shower or two expected before the system goes out to sea.
Perth should remain mostly sunny for the foreseeable future during the upcoming rain band with high temperatures in the low 20Cs.
Unfortunately, Adelaide residents are expected to collect rain from the system from Tuesday through the end of the working week.
Hobart will see rain a little later with a high chance of showers for every day from Wednesday.
Darwin is expected to see storms with up to 15mm expected on Sunday.