Ex-cyclone Kirrily has finally left Australia after dumping several months worth of rain in New South Wales (NSW) while the flood emergency remains in parts of Queensland. Some 86 millimetres have fallen at White Cliffs in northwestern NSW in the 24 hours to 9am on Tuesday, four times the February average. Dean Narramore, a senior metrologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, noted that much of the state was hit with 30mm to 50mm, with 86mm being recorded at Kiama on the south coast and 64mm at Orange.
Widespread soaking rainfall occurred, some of which fell in quick time, leading to localised flash flooding particularly around the White Cliffs area, Mr. Narramore told AAP. The State Emergency Service rescued two people from cars at Albion Park on the south coast and one at Campbelltown, with volunteers called to 174 incidents in 24 hours.
Warragamba Dam in the Blue Mountains is at 97 percent capacity, up from 94 percent in October. Water NSW stated that due to recent heat, much of the latest rain has absorbed into the soil rather than running into the dam. Thirteen flood warnings remain active in Queensland, including major warnings for the northwest at the Burketown airstrip following rapid river rises at the weekend, and for Walkers Bend along the Flinders River. Major alerts are also in place for towns along the Moonie and Balonne rivers in southeast Queensland.
Mr. Narramore said the area of greatest concern was Burketown, which was expected to reach flooding of 6.5 meters on February 6. Showers and thunderstorms are expected in northeast NSW, southeast Queensland, and northern Queensland in the coming days, considered “typical wet season” activity for this time of year. The Bureau reports that Queensland experienced the wettest January in 20 years and the second largest monthly average rainfall since 2010. NSW also experienced above-average rainfall in January, almost 30 percent higher than the long-term average.