More than 55,000 still without power after severe storms lash Sydney
Australian Associated Press•Content is currently unavailable.More than 55,000 properties in Sydney and the Central Coast remain without power after thunderstorms savaged the NSW coast.Torrential rain, damaging wind and hailstones the size of golf balls lashed Sydney and the Hunter region on Saturday afternoon bringing down trees and taking out hundreds of power lines.Sydney’s north was hardest hit with parts of the Parramatta and Campbelltown areas and the southern part of the Central Coast also damaged.The SES said they’d received more than 4600 calls, mainly for fallen trees and roof damage.Network operators Endeavour Energy and Ausgrid said more than 750 electrical hazards needed to be repaired before supply could be restored to 56,000 homes.“This was a devastating storm that caused extensive damage to the electricity network,” Endeavour Energy spokesman Peter Payne said on Sunday in a statement.
Ausgrid@Ausgrid · Replying to @AusgridThis was taken by @HornsbySES and shows some of the damage in Cherrybrook from Saturday’s storms. This is why repairs in some areas are taking time. Our crews need to make sites safe, replace poles and restring powerlines where trees have come down. Thanks for your patience. Ausgrid@Ausgrid Crews are working to restore power to 31,000 customers still without power following yesterday’s severe storms. This is an example of the damage we’re dealing with. This was taken in West Pennant Hills.
by Lynda Fallon courtesy @dailytelegraph pic.twitter.com/rktU2TPOfpTwitter Ads info and privacy 
Flash floods in parts of outer metropolitan Melbourne caused havoc. Source: AAP Flash floods in parts of outer metropolitan Melbourne caused havoc, turning backyards, suburban streets and ponds into gushing rivers.A Christmas party at a Pakenham housing estate was called off Saturday afternoon when heavy rainfall halted celebrations.Organiser Samantha Thorpe said a little pond nearby became “like a raging river”.Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said few parts of the state had been spared the impact of the wild weather.In the 24 hours from 7am on Friday the SES received 693 requests for assistance across the state.More wet and wild weather for Tasmania Tasmanians on the island’s east and northeast have had a wild night with heavy rain causing flash flooding.Locations expected to have been most affected include Scottsdale, Bridport, St Helens, Swansea, Bicheno and Fingal.A severe weather warning for heavy rain remains over that area of the state for Sunday with the Bureau of Meteorology expecting rainfall totals of up to 80mm.“A very moist east to northeasterly airstream with embedded thunderstorms is being directed over Tasmania today until Sunday afternoon,” BOM warned Saturday evening.
More than 55,000 properties in Sydney and the Central Coast remain without power after thunderstorms. Source: 7NewsSenior Meteorologist Rachel McInerney said on Saturday that significant rainfall through Bass Strait on Friday night would impact Tasmania over the next few days.“We have a low pressure over South Eastern Australia that’s bringing rain,” she said.Police closed roads on Saturday due to flooding, these included Binalong Bay Road, Ansons Bay Road, Kennel Hill Road and Rosedale Road near Bicheno.The Tasmanian SES said via Facebook that it was hard to predict what areas would be worst hit over the weekend.“While we’re preparing to assist community members in need of assistance, we would ask people to prepare themselves for the hazards associated with heavy rainfall, flash flooding and thunderstorms,” the SES wrote.“We ask farmers on the northern river systems to move stock and farming equipment from low lying areas to high ground.“Some rivers, notably the South Esk River are forecast to flood to minor or moderate levels.”
kristina.pydynowskiAccuWeather•Flooding will plague residents living along many swollen rivers in the southeastern United States despite dry weather taking hold through Wednesday.Following the latest bout of heavy rain from Friday into Saturday, many rivers are at minor to moderate flood stage from northern Florida to North Carolina.”Areas in eastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina, which were hard hit a few months ago by Hurricane Florence are among the communities dealing with flooded rivers,” according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski.This includes the Northeast Cape Fear, Cape Fear, Pee Dee, Little Pee Dee and Lumber rivers.
High river Dec 1 This was the scene along the swollen Pee Dee River in Pamplico, South Carolina, on Dec. 14, 2018. (Twitter Photo/@StaceyH54298286)While the ongoing river flooding will not rival the devastation endured during Florence, it can cause more hardships for residents.The Lumber River at Lumberton, North Carolina, is projected to crest just shy of 19 feet this weekend, according to National Weather Service (NWS) hydrologists.At 19 feet, several homes will become isolated and inundated between the Pepsi plant and the river. Nearby roads will be closed.The river at this location had a slightly higher crest on Nov. 19 and set a record crest of 29 feet after Florence on Sept. 17.
River flooding Dec 15After the river crests, moderate river flooding may persist through most of the upcoming week.Outside of those hit by Florence, river flooding is also occurring southward to northern Florida. This includes communities along the Congaree, Savannah, Satilla, Alapaha, Chipola, Suwannee and Apalachicola rivers.The Suwannee River reached major flood stage near Benton, Florida, on Saturday morning.As the floodwaters drain downstream, the river is anticipated to rise to minor to moderate stages across northern Florida through at least next weekend.Residents living along larger streams and rivers in the Southeast are urged to monitor advice by local officials and take the necessary steps to protect their home and property from the advancing floodwaters. Heed any evacuation orders that are issued.Download the free AccuWeather app to stay aware of river flooding warnings.The rivers in the Southeast will be out of their banks despite the next few days featuring sunny, comfortable conditions.Aside from where the river flooding is closing roads and any instances of morning fog, the dry spell will prevent travelers from dealing with weather-related delays and give the ground a chance to slightly dry out.
