A grim weather outlook has been issued for much of northern NSW and southeast Queensland, with warnings in place for heavy rainfall and flash flooding.
The Bureau of Meteorology said NSW’s north coast would bear the brunt of the wild weather as it moved across from Queensland, where 150mm was possible in southern regions on Monday.
Meteorologist Dean Narramore told Sunrise that Townsville was hit by 80 to 100mm of rain overnight, while northeast NSW was still being lashed by the wild weather on Monday morning.
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“The Evans Head region has seen 120mm … and it is still pouring there,” he said.
“Down in southeast Queensland, flood watch is current from Fraser Island down to northeast NSW.”
Narramore added the heavy rainfall was expected to continue over a three-day stretch, with possible flash flooding and strong winds forecast.
The Bureau of Meteorology said NSW’s north coast was bearing the brunt of the wild weather as it moved across from Queensland, where 150mm was possible in southern regions on Monday.
Flash flooding is possible, especially in the Northern Rivers region, meteorologist Helen Reid said.
“There could be warnings for heavy rainfall issued today,” she said.
The weather system was forecast to move off the coast on Wednesday.
The NSW State Emergency Service urged residents in Lismore, Byron Bay, Ballina, Evans Head, Yamba and Maclean to monitor conditions.
It said rainfall totals between 40mm to 80mm were likely in those areas on Monday, with isolated totals possible of up to 150mm.
“Currently, rain is occurring across the Northern Rivers and is expected to persist until this afternoon,” NSW SES said in a statement.
The agency said the heavy rain was being caused by a trough of low pressure in the area with a “moist and unstable air mass”.
– With AAP