Weather Warnings
The Bureau of Meteorology have advised that a low-pressure system that formed off the southern Queensland coast is crossing over the South Coast. Damaging wind gusts and wind-driven large sea waves have developed along the southern parts of the coast. The rain rate should ease from this afternoon, although steady rainfall will still continue. Weather warnings have been issued as follows:
- Severe Weather Warning for Damaging Winds and Damaging Surf: Bureau of Meteorology Weather Warnings
- Hazardous Surf Warning: Bureau of Meteorology Surf Warning
- Marine Wind Warning: Bureau of Meteorology Marine Wind Warning
- Initial flood watch has been issued for Shoalhaven River and St Georges Basin for minor flooding: Bureau of Meteorology Flood Watch
Flood Watch
Lake Tabourie was opened out to sea yesterday afternoon. Water levels reached 1.18mAHD last night and currently is at 1.01m AHD and falling. Given the current swell conditions, it may take a couple of days for the water level to stabilise.
In relation to Shoalhaven Heads, Council undertook a survey of the berm yesterday afternoon. The highest point on the berm is » 1.5m AHD (see attached survey), which is below the emergency trigger. However, the backhoe and operator are on standby as a precautionary measure.
The following tables summarises current water levels and rainfall (at 8:40am today) in key Council managed lake and river entrances. Flooding still may occur in regardless of the entrance conditions in these locations due to catchment runoff.
Table 1 – Water level summary at key locations
Location | Water Level (m AHD) | Entrance Condition | Monitoring Status | Get ready level (m AHD) | Emergency opening level(m AHD) |
Lake Conjola | 0.65 (tidal) | Open | Monitor | 0.8 | 1.2 |
Burrill Lake | 0.83 (tidal) | Open | Monitor | 0.85 | 1.2 |
Lake Tabourie | 1.01 | Open | Monitor | 0.85 | 1.17 |
Shoalhaven Heads (Shoalhaven River) | 0.08 (tidal) | Heavily shoaled. Level of entrance berm below emergency trigger (see previous email for attached survey). | Monitor | 1.5 | 2.0 |
Table 2 – 24-hour Rainfall Summary at key locations
Gauge Location | 24-hour Rainfall Totals (mm) |
Broughton Creek | 106 |
Foxground | 133 |
Greenwell Point | 104 |
Nowra | 99 |
Kangaroo Valley | 76 |
Wattamolla | 150 |
Currarong | 95 |
Vincentia | 73 |
Tomerong | 123 |
Lake Conjola | 102 |
Fishermans Paradise | 117 |
Porters Creek Dam | 133 |
Ulladulla | 128 |
Burill Lake | 90 |
Lake Tabourie | 136 |
Brooman | 179 |
Elevated water levels in open lakes and rivers open to sea are expected with the predicted swell conditions. Fortunately tide levels is predicted not to be excessive over the coming days (ranging from 1.3 to 1.5m).
