Storm season is coming – brace for floods – high chance we’ll have another wet one…

The Hawkesbury should be prepared for the possibility of heavy rain and floods this storm season – which runs from October to March – warns the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) as the SES says be prepared.

BOM says this upcoming Storm Season is likely to bring similar conditions to those we experienced last season when major floods hit the Hawkesbury.

NSW SES Commissioner Carlene York said the longterm forecast means we could once again experience severe weather, including heavy rain and river and flash flooding.

“During the previous Storm Season, we experienced major floods right across the state,” Commissioner York says.

“In fact, it wasn’t long ago our volunteers responded to the major flooding event that overwhelmed communities across the Hawkesbury-Nepean, Hunter and Mid North Coast.

“That event alone saw us respond to more than 14,000 requests for assistance, including more than 1000 flood rescues,” said the Commissioner.

The BOM is predicting there is double the chance of a La Niña event forming which increases the chances of above-average rainfall for northern and eastern Australia during spring and summer.

“This doesn’t guarantee that a La Niña will occur, but that there is around a 50% chance of La Niña forming,” said a BOM spokesperson.

“This means roughly half the climate models the bureau uses suggest that a La Niña event is likely to develop.”

The spokesperson said the possibility of La Niña helping to produce severe weather, with higher than average rainfall predicted for the eastern two-thirds of the country for the rest of the year, had increased the risk of flooding.

The spokesperson said the chances of exceeding the normal rainfall amount for this time of year is greater than 70% for much of the eastern two-thirds of the country for the rest of 2021.

“The chances of above median rainfall for the November to January period is around 60% or more for the eastern two-thirds of Australia.”

SES Commissioner York stressed it is because of events such as these that communities need to take preparing for storms and floods seriously.

“The more you can do now to prepare, the less likely you’ll end up needing emergency assistance from our volunteers when these weather events hit,” Commissioner York said.

“Our website has everything you could possibly need to learn about your risk of floods and the dangers they bring.

“It also highlights the simple, yet effective, things you can do ahead of time.

“From preparing an emergency evacuation kit, making sure your gutters and downpipes are clear, to planning for your animals, you can find all this information and more via ses.nsw.gov.au,” she said.

For more information about this upcoming Storm Season, visit ses.nsw.gov.au. To find out the latest weather warnings and forecasts, visit the Bureau of Meteorology’s website bom.gov.au.

For emergency assistance in storms or floods, call 132 500. If the situation is life-threatening, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.