Australia: Bureau of Meteorology Issues Storm Warnings and Flood Warnings for Lismore This Week

Storm warnings and flood warnings have been issued for the city of Lismore, New South Wales, by Australian meteorological authorities for the entire week.

The weather officials are warning Lismore residents they could be hit by renewed flooding as torrential rain continues in the northern part of the state.

It can be recalled heavy rain over recent months triggered widespread flooding across Australia, particularly in Queensland and New South Wales, prompting large-scale evacuations and disruption in Lismore and other cities and towns across Eastern Australia during the said period.

Lismore Flood Warning

Australia flooding — Photo by Dan Peled/Getty Images

The Australian Government's Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) on Tuesday, May 24, issued a final flood warning for the Wilsons River in Lismore, indicating that although the water level has reached a minor flood level (4.20 meters), succeeding weather risks are still expected to continue.

The BoM issued a weather forecast that further rain is expected in Lismore and its surrounding areas across New South Wales on Thursday and Friday, May 26 and May 27, which may cause renewed flooding at Wilsons River.

Flooding at the said river is critical since the overflow of water levels beyond its capacity may put nearby communities in Lismore at risk.

Earlier this year, this has also been the case when floodwaters breached a so-called "levee" at the Wilsons River on March 30, leading to evacuations in northern New South Wales, which affected thousands of residents.

On the other hand, the BoM also provided other creek and river systems in the region that are also at risk of overflowing should a renewed heavy downpour envelop the state in the coming days:

Leycester Creek in Rock Valley
Leycester Creek in Tuncester
Teraenia Creek in The Channon
Coopers Creek in Ewing Bridge Corndale
Wilsons River in Eltham
Wilson River in Woodlawn

Also Read: After Losing His Home from Flood, Australian Man Saves 16 People and 5 Dogs

NSW Storm Warnings

The looming threat of renewed flooding in Eastern Australia comes as the weather forecast on Monday, May 23, started to predict more rainfall from the New South Wales coast to the Queensland border.

Due to the close proximity of the inclement weather in Queensland, a flood watch has been issued on its southeastern region.

It was also earlier this week when the BoM initially issued an initial flood warning for Lismore and some parts of the north coast such as the Richmond River at Coraki and Bungawalbin.

According to James Taylor of the BoM, some parts of the northeast, including Kingscliff, had received over 100 millimeters of rain, as cited by ABC News.

The BoM issued storm warnings as well, emphasizing the rain could still reach over the weekend from Monday.

There is a chance Australia could experience higher rainfall totals in areas surrounding the coastal fringe which could continue until Thursday and Friday, according to BoM Meteorologist Jordan Notara, as cited by The Guardian.

2022 Australia Flooding

During previous weather events this year, a total of five people have been reported killed in Lismore due to the flash floods in February and March, according to Lismore City News.

The flooding during the first quarter of 2022 also witnessed the reported deaths of more than a dozen people and the flooding of thousands of homes and businesses in New South Wales and Queensland.