For the 3rd consecutive day a band of thick
cloud with rain and thunderstorms is spreading east through northern NSW, prompting a
flood watch for some inland rivers.
With catchments now saturated following this weeks rain, rivers are in a prime condition to rise, with flooding possible along the Peel, Namoi, Castlereagh and Lower Gwydir valleys. Most of northern NSW is likely to receive a further 20mm by Saturday afternoon but some areas may see up to 50mm. This follows falls of up to 50mm already this week across parts of the northern inland.
The rain and thunderstorms struck White Cliffs early this morning and dropped 46mm on the town in only a few hours. Cobar was next in line with 8mm falling from 9am to 11am. The rain will spread to the ranges this afternoon before gradually clearing into the Tasman Sea on Saturday.
The recent rain is the result of a moist infeed of northeasterly winds off the Coral Sea, but by Sunday much drier and colder southwesterlies will push through the state. This will prevent further rain through most of next week.
Tom Saunders
Meteorologist
The Weather Channel