The SES is warning the shire’s residents to prepare for heavy rainfall when a low pressure system hits the NSW east coast this weekend.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has forecast rainfall of 50-100mm for the Eurobodalla region, with up to 200mm of rain predicted for Wollongong and Sydney.
Moruya SES unit controller Jeff McMahon said the BOM had issued an advanced weather warning to the branch, urging householders to prepare for the drenching.
“It’s a dangerous time for householders. Leaves build up in gutters and with heavy rainfall, water gushes into the house as leaves prevent water from going down the down pipes,” Mr McMahon said.
“We really encourage people to clear gutters themselves beforehand. If we leave it till Friday, then it’s quite dangerous.”
The forecast follows a long-range prediction last month of wet weather throughout the week.
The forecast for today and tomorrow (March 1 and 2) was a 90 per cent chance of rain between 20-40mm.
This week’s wet weather has been the result of a slow-moving high pressure system in the southern Tasman Sea, with a trough off the NSW coast, which was expected to linger for much of the week.
The system was being helped by a surge of cooling air in the upper atmosphere and warmer than normal sea surface temperatures, according to Weatherzone.
“On top of that [high pressure system] there’s an onshore wind flow directing moisture towards the coast,” Weatherzone meteorologist Graeme Brittain said.
“So, anywhere along the coast of NSW is going to receive rainfall throughout this week. West of the ranges, however, will remain drier.”
This week’s Bureau of Meteorology forecast for Wollongong suggests a high chance of showers and the chance of a thunderstorm every day until Sunday.
At this stage, it appears the heaviest falls in the city will come later in the week.
The bureau’s data indicates possible totals of 15 to 40 millimetres in Wollongong on Thursday, 10 to 30mm on Friday and 8 to 25mm on Saturday.
Weatherzone modelling provides similar indications – 10 to 20 millimetres on Thursday, 20 to 40mm on Friday and 20 to 40mm on Saturday.
Accumulated rainfall mapping shows large totals across the Illawarra and South Coast between Monday and March 6 – most areas will pick up at least 100 to 150 millimetres during that period, the bureau says, although some locations could see eight-day totals of up to 200mm.
The week-long wet will come on top of above-average rainfall totals already being experienced in parts of the Illawarra during February.
Albion Park has recorded 240.2mm so far this month, largely thanks to a 24-hour fall of 112mm to 9am on February 8 and the 70mm that was tipped out of the gauge over the weekend.
The inland suburb’s average February rainfall total is 147.7mm.
*Source: Weatherzone
