Severe Weather Warning

HEAVY, LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL and DAMAGING WINDS For people in Metropolitan, Illawarra, South Coast, Southern Tablelands and parts of Hunter, Central Tablelands, Snowy Mountains and Australian Capital Territory Forecast Districts. Issued at 4:55 pm Thursday, 4 April 2024. Widespread heavy to locally intense rainfall and damaging wind gusts expected about central parts of the coast and ranges on Friday, moving south on Saturday. Weather Situation: A trough is forecast to deepen over eastern New South Wales and along central parts of the coast on Friday and Saturday, under the influence of a slow-moving upper-level low over central New South Wales. Areas of heavy rain and gusty showers are forecast to develop south of about Newcastle during Friday, including over the ranges and tablelands. Severe weather is expected to gradually shift south overnight, easing later on Saturday as the trough moves east to the Tasman Sea. HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is forecast for the southern parts of the Hunter to the Sydney Metropolitan, Illawarra, and Central Tablelands districts developing on Friday from the late morning, then shifting south to the remaining districts overnight into Saturday morning while easing from the north. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 50 to 90 mm are likely, reaching up to 130 mm over the Illawarra Escarpment. 24 hour totals of 70-120 mm are also likely, reaching up to 150 mm 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 Friday evening into Saturday morning, with localised six-hourly rainfall totals between 90 to 150 mm possible, reaching up to 220 mm over the Illawarra Escarpment. Localised 24-hourly rainfall totals between 120 and 200 mm are possible, and may reach up to 300 mm over the Illawarra Escarpment. A separate Severe Thunderstorm Warning will be issued if very dangerous thunderstorms with intense rainfall are detected. DAMAGING EASTERLY WINDS, averaging 60 to 70 km/h with peak gusts of around 90 km/h are possible from Friday evening along the coastal strip south of and including the Sydney metro area, as well as adjacent elevated areas, particularly above 500m. Severe weather is expected to ease by Saturday afternoon. A Flood Watch is current, please refer to http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/warnings/index.shtml for more information. A Hazardous Surf Warning is current. Locations which may be affected include Gosford, Sydney, Parramatta, Wollongong, Nowra, Bowral, Batemans Bay, Katoomba and Goulburn. Info: Bom

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