Wild weather lashes Australia

SYDNEY: Wild weather has lashed Australia’s east coast, dumping more than 220mm of rain by yesterday morning at Upper Springbook in the Gold Coast hinterland.

Across the NSW Tomewin 146mm fell.

Near-gale-force winds were also developing near the Sunshine and Gold Coasts, where beaches were closed, and flood alerts were put in place between Hervey Bay and Toowoomba.

South of the border, the Bureau of Meteorology declared a severe weather warning along the entire NSW coast for what meteorologists believe is the first time in 30 years.

The NSW State Emergency Service said it had received almost 300 calls for emergency assistance, mostly from homes in the north but also Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour,

Fall‘

s of up to 188mm have been recorded in the Tweed Valley.’’

border at Maitland and Gosford.

Queensland SES also received more than 200 calls for help, with 2500 properties on the Sunshine and Gold Coasts without power.

“Heavy rain has been falling along parts of the northern inland overnight and along the coast, especially the Northern Rivers region, where falls of up to 188mm have been recorded in the Tweed Valley,” the NSW SES said.

Flood warnings have been issued for the Tweed, Richmond, Wilsons and Brunswick Rivers in NSW and flood watches have also been set for river valleys across eastern NSW.

The east coast low was set to hit the metropolitan centres of Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle last night, bringing heavy rain, damaging winds and king tides.

Heavy rainfall of up to 150mm is likely for much of the affected area, with localised rainfall of up to 300mm in some areas.

The South Coast rail line has been partially closed due to heavy rainfall at Port Kembla.

Parts of Victoria are also on flood watch with rain and possible thunderstorms expected to develop across East Gippsland overnight and through today, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

Rainfall of 50-100mm is expected today.

Minor to moderate flooding is likely in the Snowy, Cann and Genoa catchments. — AAP