The State Emergency Services is urging people in Sydney,Wollongong,Nowra,Batemans Bay and Goulburn to stay indoors this evening,with six-hourly rainfall totals of between 50 and 90mm likely,and reaching up to 220 mm over the Illawarra escarpment.
The SES said in its warning that heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding is forecast for the southern parts of the Hunter to the Sydney metro,Illawarra and Central Tablelands districts today.
Six-hourly rainfall totals are likely to reach up to 130mm over the Blue Mountains and Illawarra escarpment,while 24-hour totals of 70 to 120mm are also likely,reaching up to 150mm over the Blue Mountains and Illawarra escarpment.
“Within the broad heavy rainfall area,locally intense rainfall which may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding is possible between the Blue Mountains and Narooma from this evening into Saturday morning,then extending further south later Saturday with localised six-hourly rainfall totals between 90 to 150 mm possible,reaching up to 220 mm over the Illawarra escarpment,” the SES warning said.
“Localised 24-hourly rainfall totals between 120 and 200 mm are possible,and may reach up to 300 mm over the Illawarra escarpment. Damaging easterly winds,averaging 60 to 70km/h with peak gusts of around 90 km/h are possible from this evening along the coastal strip south of and including coastal parts of the Sydney metropolitan area,as well as adjacent elevated areas,particularly above 500 metres.”
For more updates on this warning,head to the SES site.