TORRENTIAL rain squalls and frightening wind gusts continue to haunt the Nambucca Valley on Saturday after a wet, wild night.
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In the heart of the valley at Newee Creek, 105mm had been recorded since the start of this latest event, up to 2pm. A further 124mm was recorded at Newee Creek up to 9am on Sunday.
The storm took a toll on local life even before the first drop fell, as the dire forecast forced the cancellation of the 39th Challenge Cup football carnival at Nambucca Heads.
As the weather threat became reality in the early hours of Saturday, the physical damage began to realise.
The Pacific Highway at Bellwood was under police traffic control in the morning after the gusts brought a tree down on the pavement. The SES and the chainsaws were summonsed to clear the tangle of limbs.
Just to the north, the highway has reopened to traffic in both directions between Ballina and Grafton after flooding.
The highway had been closed until the road was deemed safe for travel through New Italy.
Emergency services and traffic response crews remain on site to monitor levels and traffic flow.
VIDEO: From Nambucca Headland
In its latest update, the Bureau of Meteorology said the low-pressure trough off the central and northern NSW coast is expected to continue to bring significant rainfall to the Central Coast, Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers for the remainder of Saturday and into Sunday.
This rainfall coupled with wet catchment conditions has the potential to cause flooding to develop in the following river valleys over the weekend:
1. Brunswick - minor flooding
2. Wilsons - minor flooding
3. Richmond - minor flooding
4. Clarence - minor flooding
5. Nambucca - minor to moderate
6. Macleay - minor flooding
7. Manning - minor flooding
8. Karuah - minor flooding
9. Paterson - minor flooding
10. Lower Hunter including Wollombi Brook - minor flooding
11. Nepean Hawkesbury - minor flooding.
Flood Warnings are current for Orara River, Bellinger River, Hastings River, Williams River and Coffs Creek
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. Across NSW, about 70 per cent of Flood Watches are followed by flooding.
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