Lismore evacuates after severe thunderstorms lash region

The river was at 10.7m at 8.20am and was falling. It is still at major flood level however.

An aged care worker, Anita Brakel, remains missing, believed to have been trapped in her car in floodwater at Monaltrie. Police and emergency services are still looking for her.

UPDATE 2.40pm: The SES has advised the Wilsons River may reach around 12m late Wednesday evening, with major flooding.

Further rises are possible as floodwater moves downstream, and if more rain falls.

UPDATE 1.40pm: At 1.14pm, the Wilsons Rivers had risen to 11.22m at the Rowing Club gauge.

Rain is not currently falling in Lismore, but the river is still rising as water travels downstream from the catchment.

UPDATE 11.25am: The SES has warned people to stay out of the CBD as floodwaters have topped the levee and are now entering the CBD.

Ahsley Sullivan of the SES fronted a video of water lapping over the levee in Molesworth Street.

"Please stay out of the CBD," he said in his piece to camera.

The Lismore CBD is still under an evacuation order, he said.

It's the second time floodwaters have entered the city in just over a month.

UPDATE 9.30am: The Wilsons River is at 10.73m at 9.13am this morning at the rowing club.

UPDATE 9.00am: Authorities have warned Lismore Levee overtopping is imminent!

The sirens will not sound due to malfunction.

everyone must get out of the CBD immediately.

The Wilson River height at the Rowing Club was at 10.66m at 8.44am this morning and rising.

The river overtops the levee at about 10.6m.

UPDATED 8.50am: The SES is warning everyone to leave the Lismore CBD immediately as the levee is about to overtop.

Floodwater will inundate the CBD, low lying areas in east Lismore, Girards Hill and the Lismore Basin.

The water will be fast flowing and you must evacuate before roads are cut and become trapped.

UPDDATE 8.15am: Overtopping of the Lismore levee is expected this morning.

The Wilsons River at Lismore (AHD) was expected to exceed 10.60 metres around 08:00 am Wednesday. The river level may reach around 11.00 metres Wednesday morning, with major flooding. Further rises possible.

Further rises are expected with bands of heavy rain affecting the Wilsons River catchment to persist for the remainder of Wednesday as a low pressure system moves slowly to the south and west. The Wilsons River at Woodlawn and Leycester Creek at Tuncester are still rising and peak predictions at Lismore will be made after upstream peaks are observed.

Further heavy to intense rainfall is forecast over the next 12 to 24 hours which may result in further rapid river level rises and localised flash flooding. A Severe Weather Warning is current for the Northern Rivers and parts of the Mid North Coast and Northern Tablelands Forecast District.

The situation is being closely monitored and revised predictions will be provided if necessary.

For emergency assistance call the SES on telephone number 132 500

For life threatening emergencies, call 000 immediately

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

For the latest road closures see https://disaster.lismore.nsw.gov.au/dashboard/overview

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

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

UPDATE 6.15am: The BOM has advised overtopping of the Lismore levee is likely this morning.

Intense rainfall rates are expected to persist over the next several hours as a low pressure system moves slowly to the south and west. Renewed river level rises are expected during Wednesday with bands of heavy rain affecting the Wilsons River catchment.

The Wilsons River at Lismore to overtop the levee this morning, with further rises in the afternoon possible. The Wilsons River at Woodlawn and Leycester Creek at Tuncester are still rising and peak predictions at Lismore will be made after upstream peaks are observed.

A Severe Weather Warning is current for the Northern Rivers and parts of the Mid North Coast and Northern Tablelands Forecast District.

The situation is being closely monitored and revised predictions will be provided if necessary.

Lismore SES have been undertaking manual calculations to determine when overtopping will occur.

"Our members have taken manual readings of the flood heights in the CBD and compared them to the flood gauge readings. The countdown timer on Browns Creek pump station is reading 400mm greater than the actual figure. This means if the levee overtops there will be still 0.40 till overtop reading on the display," Lismore SES posted on Facebook.

There have been some big rainfall totals in the region in the past 24 hours: Alstonville STP 208mm, Dunoon 143mm and Nimbin 139mm.

If you require transportation from any of the areas in the current evacuation order areas, call 132 500 to request assistance. #NSWSES vehicles are being deployed for this purpose. Please don't drive or walk through flood waters.

Major flooding is likely along the Wilsons River at Lismore.

The Wilsons River at Lismore (AHD) is likely to exceed 10.60 metres 08:00 am Wednesday with major flooding. Further rises possible in the afternoon.

UPDATE 3.30am: An Evacuation Order has been issued for people in the Lismore CBD, low lying areas of East Lismore, Girards Hill and the Lismore Basin.

If you are in those areas, leave now via New Ballina Rd, to Bruxner Hwy, to Dalley St, to get to the evacuation centre at SCU in East Lismore.

Localised flooding is occurring now and people should evacuate before roads are cut off.

The SES says if water continues to rise, it will be too unsafe to leave.

Torrential rain continues to fall on Lismore.

NSW SES is directing people within these areas to evacuate the high danger area via New Ballina Road, Bruxner Highway and Dalley Street.

Flash flooding in the CBD as a result of heavy rainfall has inundated roads. Residents should evacuate now, prior to the closure of further roads. If water continues to rise, it may be too unsafe to leave.

The areas affected are:

Once flood water begins inundating the area road access water, sewerage, power, phones and internet may be lost.

Wherever possible, people should go and stay with family or friends, or make other accommodation arrangements. If you are unable to, an evacuation centre has been set up at the following.

Southern Cross University, Military Road, Lismore

For emergency assistance call the SES on telephone number 132 500

For life threatening emergencies, call 000 immediately

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

For the latest road closures see https://disaster.lismore.nsw.gov.au/dashboard/overview

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

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

UPDATE 1.55am: An Evacuation Warning has been issued for parts of Lismore - people in Lismore CBD, low lying areas of East Lismore and the Lismore Basin should be prepared to leave.

The Wilsons River was at 9.41m at 1.44am Wednesday morning.

Major flooding is declared at 9.7m, and the levee overtops at about 10.6m.

Renewed river level rises are occurring along the Wilsons River at Lismore where river levels may reach major level in the early hours of Wednesday March 30, 2022.

The river level may reach 10.5, close to the levee height, Wednesday afternoon.

As a result, residents and visitors to these areas should take action now to prepare for possible flood impacts.

Storm and flood impacts may interrupt essential services such as electricity, phones, internet, water and sewerage.

People in these areas need to closely monitor weather and road closures and make informed decisions early based on individual circumstances.

Residents should monitor the situation and be prepared to evacuate when instructed to do so.

A Flood Evacuation Order will be issued by the NSW SES if and when evacuations are required.

Where to go if Evacuation is required: Wherever possible, people should go and stay with family or friends, or make other accommodation arrangements. If you are unable to, an evacuation centre has been set up at the following.

. Southern Cross University, Military Road, Lismore.

A dynamic weather system is currently producing heavy rain.

The Evacuation Order remains in affect for North and South Lismore.

A reminder to those residents who may have returned that these areas may be impacted by flooding.

Prepare now and act early - roads will be cut quickly.

Weather Situation: A developing low pressure system off the northeast coast is driving a moist and unstable airmass over northeast NSW. An upper trough is enhancing thunderstorm development tonight, leading to intense rainfall.

Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce intense rainfall that may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include Lismore, Mullumbimby, Byron Bay, Ballina and Alstonville.

Heavy rainfall increases the potential for landslides and debris across roads.

Flood Watches and Warnings are current for parts of northeast New South Wales. For more details, please visit www.bom.gov.au/nsw/warnings.

120mm has been recorded at Alstonville in the three hours to 11:15pm.

All weather stations in the Lismore catchment have received in excess of 100mm in the past 24hours.

The State Emergency Service advises that people should: