Flood watch and severe weather warning for Macleay
Published on 24 February 2022
Update 8.45am Monday 28 February 2022
The Macleay River remains on flood watch Flood Warning - Flood Watch 1 (bom.gov.au) for Minor Flooding.
The focus remains on forecast rainfall throughout this evening and into tomorrow. The Bureauf of Meteorology has issued a Severe Weather Warning at 5.08 am Monday, 28 February 2022.
HEAVY TO LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL CONTINUING DURING MONDAY and DAMAGING WINDS for parts of Mid North Coast including Kempsey.
RIVER CROSSINGS
- Sherwood Bridge is CLOSED
- Turners Flat Bridge is CLOSED
- Temagog Bridge is CLOSED
- Toorooka Bridge is CLOSED
- Bellbrook Bridge is CLOSED
KNOWN ROAD CLOSURES
- Armidale Road at “Flying Fox”, within the Armidale Regional Council LGA is closed due to a slip.
- Gladstone Street Underpass is closed. This is the area between Kempt Street and First Lane Intersections with Gladstone Street.
FLOOD STRUCTURES
All Flood Structures are closed
- Kinchela Creek cross over and relief gates
- Belmore River cross over and relief gates
- Christmas Creek floodgates
- Euroka Creek floodgates.
Update 6pm Sunday 27 February 2022
Turners Flat Bridge is now CLOSED.
Rainfall throughout the day has led to a steady trend in river levels. There have been some fluctuations, leading to the Turners Flat Bridge opening earlier today, and the subsequent closure this evening.
The Macleay River remains on flood watch Flood Warning - Flood Watch 1 (bom.gov.au) for Minor Flooding.
The focus remains on forecast rainfall throughout this evening and into tomorrow. The Bureauf of Meteorology has issued a Severe Weather Warning at 4:47 pm Sunday, 27 February 2022.
HEAVY TO LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY and DAMAGING WINDS for parts of Mid North Coast including Kempsey.
RIVER CROSSINGS
- Sherwood Bridge is CLOSED
- Turners Flat Bridge is CLOSED
- Temagog Bridge is CLOSED
- Toorooka Bridge is CLOSED
- Bellbrook Bridge is CLOSED
KNOWN ROAD CLOSURES
- Armidale Road at “Flying Fox”, within the Armidale Regional Council LGA is closed due to a slip.
- Gladstone Street Underpass is closed. This is the area between Kempt Street and First Lane Intersections with Gladstone Street.
FLOOD STRUCTURES
All Flood Structures are closed
- Kinchela Creek cross over and relief gates
- Belmore River cross over and relief gates
- Christmas Creek floodgates
- Euroka Creek floodgates.
Update 12pm Sunday 27 February 2022
Turners Flat Bridge is now OPEN - This may only be temporary pending further rain throughout today.
Armidale Road at 'Flying Fox' is CLOSED - This is approximately 20-30km outside of the Kempsey Shire Council boundary, within the Armidale Regional Council area.
River crossing update:
- Sherwood Bridge is CLOSED
- Turners Flat Bridge is OPEN
- Temagog Bridge is CLOSED
- Toorooka Bridge is CLOSED
- Bellbrook Bridge is CLOSED
All Flood Structures are closed
- Kinchela Creek cross over and relief gates are CLOSED
- Belmore River cross over and relief gates are CLOSED
- Christmas Creek floodates are CLOSED
- Euroka Creek floodates are CLOSED
Please note the minor flood level has not been reached at Kempsey thus far during this weather event. Our focus is now on the rain predicted throughout the remainder of today and tomorrow.
The Macleay River remains on Flood Watch - Flood Warning - Flood Watch 1 (bom.gov.au) for minor flooding according to both the Bureau of Meteorology and NSW SES
Update 4pm Saturday 26 February 2022
NSW SES have issued a Flood Watch for the Mid North Coast saying flooding is possible in the Mid North Coast catchment.
They estimate a 75% chance of minor flooding in the Macleay River.
"Rainfall has eased generally over the catchment today, with the rise in river levels having slowed, with some gauges even beginning to turn.
"A surface trough over southeast Queensland is forecast to deepen into a low-pressure system in response to a strong upper low Saturday night. This low is expected to track southward into north eastern New South Wales on Sunday producing heavy rainfall with embedded thunderstorms. A Severe Weather Warning has been issued for the Northern Rivers and parts of Mid North Coast and Northern Tablelands Forecast District.
Update 5pm Friday 25 February 2022
Rainfall has eased generally over the catchment today, with the rise in river levels having slowed, with some gauges even beginning to turn.
There is water over the road at Collombatti Rd. Please drive to the conditions.
Otherwise there have been no changes today to the below updates in relation to flood structures or road / bridge closures.
Update 11am Friday 25 February 2022
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a Flood Watch for the Macleay at 10:40am EDT on Friday 25 February 2022.
Minor flooding is possible in the Macleay River Catchment.
The Bureau predicts areas of heavy rainfall with embedded thunderstorms for Friday.
This rainfall has the potential to cause riverine flooding in the Macleay Catchment on the Mid North Coast.
Update 9am Friday 25 February 2022
The Macleay River has continued to rise overnight and further rain is forecast throughout today, however the expected rainfall is less than yesterday.
Low lying bridges in the Mungay Creek, Hickeys Creek, Willi Willi and Moparrabah areas will remain impacted.
Residents of the Lower Macleay should monitor the situation closely and act accordingly.
The status of the following river crossings is:
- Sherwood Bridge is CLOSED
- Turners Flat Bridge is CLOSED
- Temagog Bridge is CLOSED
- Toorooka Bridge is CLOSED
- Bellbrook Bridge is CLOSED
- Queen Street causeway is OPEN
If rain eases throughout the day, we anticipate the bridges on smaller streams opening.
Flood structures and gates at:
- Kinchela Creek are CLOSED
- Belmore River are CLOSED
- Christmas Creek are CLOSED
- Euroka Creek are CLOSED
Update: 7.45pm Thursday 24 February 2022
The following river crossings are closed:
- Turners Flat Bridge is CLOSED
- Toorooka Bridge is CLOSED
- Temagog Bridge is CLOSED
- Sherwood Bridge is CLOSED
- Bellbrook Bridge is CLOSED
- Dungay Creek Causeway is CLOSED
- Queen Street Causeway is CLOSED
Update: 4pm Thursday 24 February 2022
The following river crossings are either closed or likely to close:
- Toorooka Bridge is CLOSED
- Temagog Bridge is CLOSED
- Dungay Creek Causeway is CLOSED
- Queen Street Causeway is CLOSED
- Sherwood Bridge is anticipated to close this evening
- Bellbrook Bridge may close during this evening
Update: 12.30pm Thursday 24 February 2022
Areas of Mungay Creek, Hickeys Creek, Willi Willi and Moparrabah are receiving heavy rainfall. Low lying bridges in these areas are being impacted.
Bridges that cross the Macleay River, particularly Toorooka Bridge and Temagog Bridge, are at risk of closure soon.
If rainfall continues there are further bridge closures possible throughout today.
Land owners in the lower Macleay are advised that the flood structures are closed and strongly encouraged to monitor conditions and act accordingly.
Update: 10.15am Thursday 24 February 2022
Powick's Bridge on Hickeys Creek Road is closed due to flooding.
Update: 9am Thursday 24 February 2022
Heavy rainfall has led to river level rises in the Macleay Valley.
As a result of these rises Council will close the flood structures on the Belmore River, Kinchela Creek, Christmas Creek and Euroka Creek throughout today.
Landowners should monitor the situation closely as heavy rainfall is possible.
We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updated advice as it becomes available.
Residents are advised to monitor the river levels via the Bureau of Meteorology website and act accordingly.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
In the event of flooding, Council urges people to:
- refrain from driving or walking through flood water
- consider the impact of possible road closures and flood isolation on work, family and educational commitments
- monitor emergency warnings and severe weather updates on local ABC radio, the NSW SES Mid North Coast Facebook page and the Bureau of Meteorology website
- if your property is at risk of inundation, raise moveable items, such as furniture, as high as possible onto benches or tables, placing electrical items on top
- if you live in a low-lying area and are advised by an emergency services officer to evacuate, please do so
- secure outside belongings and before leaving turn off the power and water and take essential medicines and clothes with you.
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's work teams are inspecting roads and any areas of concern will be advised.
Council welcomes advice from residents in outlying areas about any concerns which may be reported to Council on 6566 3200. However our Customer Service Centre is currently experiencing a high volume of calls, so please check that your concerns have not already been addressed online.
For emergency help in floods and storms, call the NSW State Emergency Service on 132 500.
In life-threatening situations call triple zero (000) or from any mobile dial one one two (112) immediately.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Check the comprehensive Kempsey Shire Disaster Dashboard produced by Resilience NSW.
Listen to local ABC, the emergency broadcaster, on 95.5 FM or 684 AM or listen online.
Follow NSW SES on Facebook or www.ses.nsw.gov.au
You can see the latest image from the Sherwood Bridge Flood Camera on our Flood cameras page.
Latest weather, warnings, rainfall and river heights
Bureau of Meteorology www.bom.gov.au/nsw
Road closures
Roads & Maritime Services 132 701
Check the list of NSW Traffic Hazards or a map at www.livetraffic.com