The Bureau of Meteorology has issued an initial flood watch alert for coastal rivers, including a moderate flooding warning for the Wilsons River catchment.

The warning, issued this afternoon, states that river level rises above the moderate flood level are possible across the Northern Rivers area, with increasing rainfall expected along the coast from Thursday.

A Severe Weather Warning of heavy rain has been issued for the Northern Rivers area.

“As a low pressure trough in the area deepens, intense rainfall is possible for some areas,” the warning states.

“Coastal catchments are relatively wet due to recent rainfall and high tides may exacerbate flood conditions in low lying coastal areas.”

Catchments likely to be affected include Wilsons River with moderate flooding, Tweed and Rouse Rivers with minor flooding and Richmond River with minor flooding.

Flood Safety Advice:

This Flood Watch means that people living or working along rivers and streams must monitor the latest weather forecasts and warnings and be ready to move to higher ground should flooding develop.

Flood Warnings will be issued if Minor Flood Level is expected to be exceeded at key sites along the main rivers for which the Bureau of Meteorology provides a flood warning service.

Severe Weather Warnings will be issued or updated if very heavy rain is forecast or observed.

For more information on the Flood Watch Service: http://www.bom.gov.au/water/floods/floodWarningServices.shtml

FloodSafe advice is available at www.ses.nsw.gov.au

For emergency assistance call the SES on telephone number 132 500

For the latest flood and weather warnings see www.bom.gov.au/nsw/warnings/

For the latest rainfall and weather forecasts see www.bom.gov.au/australia/meteye/



For the latest rainfall and river level information see www.bom.gov.au/nsw/flood