Moderate flooding in Nambucca River
Latest from the SES.
BOM/SES UPDATE 12:32PM - MINOR FLOOD WARNING FOR MACLEAY RIVER:
Up to 230 millimetres of rainfall has been recorded during the last 39 hours to 11.00am Sunday over the Lower Macleay River valley. Rainfall has eased since 6.00 am Sunday.
As a result he Bureau of Meteorology has predicted that the Macleay River will exceed the minor flood level at Kempsey (4.50 metres) Sunday afternoon.
The river level is expected to peak near 5.00 metres at the Kempsey gauge Sunday evening. This will cause minor flooding on the Macleay River at Kempsey and Smithtown.
NAMBUCCA: River levels at Bowraville fell below the minor flood level (5.5 metres) this morning.
No significant rainfall has fallen over the Nambucca Valley since 1:00 am Sunday.
UPDATE 11:15AM:
Macleay River water levels have started to fall at Bellbrook and Toorooka but continue to rise downstream to Kempsey. A minor flood warning remains current for Kempsey and Smithtown.
Roads affected by flooding
Bellbrook, Toorooka, Temagog, Turners Flat and Sherwood Bridges are all closed.
Dungay Creek causeway is closed.
Gladstone Street, West Kempsey railway underpass is closed.
Queen Street, South Kempsey is closed
Old Aerodrome Road is closed
Euroka Road is closed
Crescent Head Road at Rudders Lagoon remained open at 10.30am
There may be water over or adjacent to other roads – proceed with caution
River levels
Georges Creek – 4.89m at 9.00am – appears to have peaked
Bellbrook – 5.04m at 10.14am – falling but may rise again with flows from upper catchment
Toorooka – 6.15m at 10.12am - rising
Turners Flat – 6.01m at 9.00am – rising
Sherwood Bridge – 6.33m at 10.04am - rising
Kempsey Traffic Bridge – 3.23m at 8.45am – rising
Belmore River entrance – 1.05m at 10.00am - rising
Flood relief gates at Kinchela Creek and Belmore River are closed
Flood gates on Kinchela Creek, Belmore River, Euroka Creek and Christmas Creek are closed
A decision on opening the relief gates at Kinchela Creek and Belmore River will not be made until river heights can be more accurately assessed but opening is unlikely.
Next report will be issued by 5.00pm on 19/3/17
(ISSUED 4:40AM)
Up to 54 millimetres of rain has been recorded in the 6 hours to 4:00 am Sunday over the Nambucca River valley.
No significant rain is forecast for the rest of Sunday.
River Height Predictions The Nambucca River at Bowraville peaked around 6.40 metres with moderate flooding at 4:30AM. The Nambucca River at Macksville will remain below the minor flood level (1.70 metres). The Nambucca River at Bowraville is expected to remain above the moderate flood level (5.80 metres) during Sunday morning.
At this predicted height there is a high probability that:
The Nambucca River is tidal and some effects may vary dependant on tidal flows in the Nambucca (North Arm) and Taylors Arm.
At Bowraville:-
Lanes Bridge closes causing no access to the North of Bowraville from town.
At Macksville:-
low-lying areas of NORTH MACKSVILLE including Bellevue Dr, Ferry St and the Pacific Hwy. Over ground flooding begins in North Macksville around Bellevue Drive, Ferry Street.