WEATHER UPDATE
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The Bureau of Meterology has issued an Initial Minor to Moderate Flood Warning for the Macleay River at Bellbrook, Kempsey and Smithtown at 1.48pm on Tuesday 15 December. Further very heavy rainfall is forecast for the next 8 hours. As a result moderate flooding is possible along the Macleay River at Kempsey and Smithtown on Wednesday. Minor flooding
is expected at Bellbrook on Tuesday afternoon. A Severe Weather Warning for heavy rainfall, which may lead to flash flooding, has been issued for the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers.
The following is an update on conditions in Kempsey Shire.
ROAD AND BRIDGE CLOSURES
- Collombatti Road is closed.
- Old Aerodrome Road is closed.
- Mines Road is closed.
- Crescent Head Road at Rudders Lagoon is closed due to flash flooding. . Queen Street, South Kempsey is closed.
- Bellbrook Bridge is closed.
- Temagog Bridge is closed.
- Toorooka Bridge is closed.
- Dungay Creek, Moparrabah Road and Dowling's Falls causeways are closed. . The bypass bridge on Toms Gully Road, Lewis Creek is closed.
- Bridges on Nulla Nulla Creek Road are impacted by flooding and are closed. . The Gladstone Street Rail Underpass is closed.
- Armidale Regional Council have advised that Armidale Road is closed west of Blackbird Flat.
- There are several roads currently subject to flash flooding in the Kempsey LGA There may be water over or adjacent to other roads - proceed with caution.
RIVER LEVELS AND TRENDS
A flood monitoring camera is in place at Sherwood Bridge across the Macleay River west of Kempsey with images available on this page https://ksc.pub/sherwoodcamera. The image on this page will show the bridge deck so residents can see if the bridge is being affected by flooding. During normal conditions the camera images are updated every 30 minutes and more frequently during potential flooding.
Alternate river level/rainfall information is available from the BOM website. http://www.bom.gov.au/nsw/flood/midnorth.shtml
KSC will have commenced closing all flood structures from 2pm, as detailed below:
- The flood gates on Kinchela Creek, Belmore River and Christmas Creek are closed.
- The flood gates on Euroka Creek will be closed shortly.
- Flood relief gates at Kinchela Creek and Belmore River are closed.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
NSW SES are urging people to plan their trips, drive to road conditions and to take care driving in areas with low lying causeways. People who live or work along rivers and streams should monitor the latest weather forecasts and warnings and be ready to move to higher ground should flooding develop.
Residents and visitors are urged to remain cautious on the roads for localised impacts and not attempt to drive through floodwaters or cross flooded bridges.
Council work teams are inspecting roads and any areas of concern will be advised in future updates. Council welcomes advice from residents in outlying areas regarding any concerns which may be reported to Council on 6566 3200.
For emergency help in floods and storms, call the NSW State Emergency Service on 132 500. In life threatening situations call triple zero (000) immediately.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Listen to local ABC, the emergency broadcaster, on 95.5 FM or 684 AM Follow NSW SES on Facebook or www.ses.nsw.gov.au
Latest Weather, Warnings, Rainfall and River heights: www.bom.gov.au/nsw Road Closures: RMS website www.livetraffic.com.au, 131 701 or on the Regional Road Information website www.myroadinfo.nsw.gov.au
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