New South Wales prepares for floods

[depakid]

The state emergency service in New South Wales is getting ready for impending Christmas floods. The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting up to 200 millimetres of rain in parts of NSW.

It says the developing weather system could bring the heaviest falls in a decade to centres including Nyngan, Coonamble and Bourke. The Macquarie Region Controller for the SES, David Monk, says residents living near rivers in outlying areas of Nyngan, Coonamble and Dubbo need to prepare their homes for major flooding.

"They really need to make sure they've got adequate supplies. It's more than likely they will become isolated for quite a number of days," he says. "They also need to decide as to whether or not they wish to leave now if they've got plans after Christmas so that they can now get out and move about freely before the flood waters get in there and they become isolated."

More: http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/200912/s2780087.htm

Good news for the Murray Darling river system... a bit inconvenient timing- but I'm sure folks will take it!



Cyclone Laurence brings Christmas goodies to Australian farmers

Drought-ravaged Australian farmers are set to receive their best rainfall in decades over the Christmas holiday, the weather bureau said Thursday. The wondrous gift of water comes courtesy of Cyclone Laurence, which created a rain-giving, low-pressure system in the interior of the continent after hammering the west coast earlier this week.

Farms that have not seen decent rainfall in years can expect up to 300 millimetres over two days.

The Bureau of Meteorology's Gordon McKay said there could be flash flooding in Gilganda, Coonamble, Bourke and Nyngan - dry-as-dust New South Wales towns de-populated because of the 10-year drought. Bourke Shire council manager Geoff Wise said the downpour would be a prayer answered. 'We are waiting eagerly,' he told The Australian newspaper. 'People are trying not to talk about it in case they scare it away.'

Rain from Cyclone Laurence has helped douse fires in the South Australia coastal town of Port Lincoln, where 12 houses were lost in a bushfire on Wednesday. The precipitation is also expected to clear beaches and hamper barbeque lighting in Sydney and Melbourne on Christmas Day.

The cyclone gave tourists visiting Uluru, or Ayers Rock, in the centre of the continent the rare sight of water cascading over the massive rock as the wild weather rocked in from the west coast with heavy rains and high winds.

More: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/asiapacific/news/article_1521211.php/Cyclone-Laurence-brings-Christmas-goodies-to-Australian-farmers#ixzz0aZrm36ba

[Skink]

1. Got inches?

[depakid]

2. 300 mm = 30 cm = @12 inches

It'll flood in the catchments, alright.

[Skink]

3. Don't we use your system?

We kicked you for something.

[aquart]

4. I hope it helps.

[Octafish]

5. Great news!

Great pic of Uluru, too.

[hatrack]

6. If I were living there, after 13 years . . .

I don't even know if I'd have words for my feelings at the arrival of actual rain.

[depakid]

7. Understood- as the rains arrive across the continent, I'll post more on that

It's a happy Christmas- throughout the interior.