Weird bunches of wind, ekkkkk!
Showing posts with label storms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label storms. Show all posts
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
More storms forescast for SE Qld. *ekkkkkkkkkkk!
Southern and central Queenslanders are bracing for the fourth fierce storm in a devastating week described by Premier Anna Bligh as a "never-ending story".
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast wild winds of up to 90km/h and hail on Friday night, with worse storms to hit on Saturday.
It predicts Friday's storm will affect areas from Emerald in central Queensland to the Gold Coast.
The systems will move north on Saturday to stretch from Barcaldine to Brisbane.
Thunderstorms that have pounded south-east Queensland for nearly a week - inflicting hundreds of millions of dollars in damage and claiming two lives - swept inland on Thursday night, unleashing its fury on Blackwater, 290km west of Rockhampton.
The mining township, with a population of around 5,000, has been declared the state's 13th natural disaster area.
Many locals reported hailstones nearly 18 centimetres in diameter.
Blackwater resident Merv Gibson said the storm lasted about an hour.
"I was near the car and next thing an 'F 111' went over the top - and that was my roof," he said.
When local MP Vaughan Johnson drove through the storm, his rear window and mirrors were shattered.
"The car was rocking - it was like about 10 big fellas rocking the car," he said.
Emergency services crews in the township responded to nearly 100 calls for help.
The Queensland premier flew into the town early on Friday morning and was stunned by the trail of destruction.
Twisted iron and uprooted trees were everywhere, scores of cars and houses had shattered windows while there were gaping holes the size of dinner plates in roofs and walls.
"It must have been terrifying for the people," said Ms Bligh.
"The hailstones were of an extraordinary size.
"We're very lucky that we didn't see any damage to people or loss of life."
The Darling Downs town of Warwick also suffered extensive storm damage on Thursday night.
Meanwhile, some 80,000 homes in the state's south-east lost power with Energex recording 90,000 lightning strikes.
Brisbane suburbs devastated by the storms on Sunday and Wednesday, such as Paddington, Red Hill, Ashgrove, Arana Hills and Everton Park, again suffered damage.
This included fallen powerlines, trees and branches blown onto powerlines, and water seeping into underground cables, Energex said.
The Scarborough Bay Hotel on Brisbane's bayside was extensively damaged.
Ms Bligh said she'd been talking to the federal government about financial assistance for the clean-up.
She said the Queensland government had deferred a proposed mid-year budget review to mid-December - the budget contingency of $10-$20 million would be inadequate.
"This is going to have a very high recovery bill and it will have an impact on a budget that is already under pressure," she said.
"We are in for a rocky summer," she said.
"Like everyone here in Queensland, I'm beginning to wonder when it will end."
She paid tribute to emergency workers, some of whom were taking their first break after four days of relentless work in difficult conditions.
"I hope Mother Nature is a bit kinder to us than she has been in the past few days," she said.
"It's starting to feel like the never-ending story."
Emergency Management Queensland deputy executive director Bruce Grady said Saturday's storm would bring stronger, gusty winds.
Residents should take precautions, including heeding weather alerts, trimming trees, securing loose items, preparing an emergency kit and covering any debris from previous storms.
"If they are concerned about current damage and what that might mean in a storm we would encourage them to move to family and friends," Mr Grady told AAP.
He said there were specific concerns about the safety of 14,000 Year 12 students finishing school on Friday, and heading into the traditional schoolies celebrations on the Gold and Sunshine coasts.
"Having that many young people concentrating on things other than storms is a concern," he said.
"As storms approach we would encourage people to stay indoors - that's the safest place.
"It's a small price to pay to lose one or two days out of your schoolies week."
Meanwhile, two of Queensland's largest energy suppliers are offering financial relief to residents affected by storms which have battered the region since Sunday night.
AGL and Origin are offering payment plans for storm affected customers to help with financial difficulties as they face the rebuilding process.
AGL is waiving all contract termination, disconnection and reconnection fees for storm affected residents.
Origin is asking its storm-affected customers to contact them to discuss payment arrangements on a case by case basis.
Energy Ombudsman Barry Adams encouraged all storm-affected residents to contact their energy supplier for assistance and was satisfied with the assistance already offered by AGL and Origin.
"Recognising the severe hardship people are facing to rebuild their homes and their lives, I am pleased to say two of Queensland's largest energy retailers are showing compassion when it comes to electricity and gas accounts," he said.
Mr Adams said any residents unable to receive the help needed from their energy retailer should contact Energy Ombudsman Queensland on 1800 662 837 or email complaints@eoq.com.au
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast wild winds of up to 90km/h and hail on Friday night, with worse storms to hit on Saturday.
It predicts Friday's storm will affect areas from Emerald in central Queensland to the Gold Coast.
The systems will move north on Saturday to stretch from Barcaldine to Brisbane.
Thunderstorms that have pounded south-east Queensland for nearly a week - inflicting hundreds of millions of dollars in damage and claiming two lives - swept inland on Thursday night, unleashing its fury on Blackwater, 290km west of Rockhampton.
The mining township, with a population of around 5,000, has been declared the state's 13th natural disaster area.
Many locals reported hailstones nearly 18 centimetres in diameter.
Blackwater resident Merv Gibson said the storm lasted about an hour.
"I was near the car and next thing an 'F 111' went over the top - and that was my roof," he said.
When local MP Vaughan Johnson drove through the storm, his rear window and mirrors were shattered.
"The car was rocking - it was like about 10 big fellas rocking the car," he said.
Emergency services crews in the township responded to nearly 100 calls for help.
The Queensland premier flew into the town early on Friday morning and was stunned by the trail of destruction.
Twisted iron and uprooted trees were everywhere, scores of cars and houses had shattered windows while there were gaping holes the size of dinner plates in roofs and walls.
"It must have been terrifying for the people," said Ms Bligh.
"The hailstones were of an extraordinary size.
"We're very lucky that we didn't see any damage to people or loss of life."
The Darling Downs town of Warwick also suffered extensive storm damage on Thursday night.
Meanwhile, some 80,000 homes in the state's south-east lost power with Energex recording 90,000 lightning strikes.
Brisbane suburbs devastated by the storms on Sunday and Wednesday, such as Paddington, Red Hill, Ashgrove, Arana Hills and Everton Park, again suffered damage.
This included fallen powerlines, trees and branches blown onto powerlines, and water seeping into underground cables, Energex said.
The Scarborough Bay Hotel on Brisbane's bayside was extensively damaged.
Ms Bligh said she'd been talking to the federal government about financial assistance for the clean-up.
She said the Queensland government had deferred a proposed mid-year budget review to mid-December - the budget contingency of $10-$20 million would be inadequate.
"This is going to have a very high recovery bill and it will have an impact on a budget that is already under pressure," she said.
"We are in for a rocky summer," she said.
"Like everyone here in Queensland, I'm beginning to wonder when it will end."
She paid tribute to emergency workers, some of whom were taking their first break after four days of relentless work in difficult conditions.
"I hope Mother Nature is a bit kinder to us than she has been in the past few days," she said.
"It's starting to feel like the never-ending story."
Emergency Management Queensland deputy executive director Bruce Grady said Saturday's storm would bring stronger, gusty winds.
Residents should take precautions, including heeding weather alerts, trimming trees, securing loose items, preparing an emergency kit and covering any debris from previous storms.
"If they are concerned about current damage and what that might mean in a storm we would encourage them to move to family and friends," Mr Grady told AAP.
He said there were specific concerns about the safety of 14,000 Year 12 students finishing school on Friday, and heading into the traditional schoolies celebrations on the Gold and Sunshine coasts.
"Having that many young people concentrating on things other than storms is a concern," he said.
"As storms approach we would encourage people to stay indoors - that's the safest place.
"It's a small price to pay to lose one or two days out of your schoolies week."
Meanwhile, two of Queensland's largest energy suppliers are offering financial relief to residents affected by storms which have battered the region since Sunday night.
AGL and Origin are offering payment plans for storm affected customers to help with financial difficulties as they face the rebuilding process.
AGL is waiving all contract termination, disconnection and reconnection fees for storm affected residents.
Origin is asking its storm-affected customers to contact them to discuss payment arrangements on a case by case basis.
Energy Ombudsman Barry Adams encouraged all storm-affected residents to contact their energy supplier for assistance and was satisfied with the assistance already offered by AGL and Origin.
"Recognising the severe hardship people are facing to rebuild their homes and their lives, I am pleased to say two of Queensland's largest energy retailers are showing compassion when it comes to electricity and gas accounts," he said.
Mr Adams said any residents unable to receive the help needed from their energy retailer should contact Energy Ombudsman Queensland on 1800 662 837 or email complaints@eoq.com.au
Monday, July 28, 2008
North-island-records-25000-lightning-strikes
Well we had a busy weekend weather wise - at least northern and western parts of the North Island did - with a total of 25,000 lightning strikes clocked up from midnight Friday to 6pm Sunday.
Aucklanders were rattled awake on Saturday morning then a few random booms and hail storms sent people running for cover during Sunday.
Today we'll see a short breather - not just for Aucklanders but all of New Zealand - ahead of the next big winter storm. The low, which will develop during Monday in the Tasman Sea, between Tasmania and Southland, is expected to rapidly deepen and by mid-week will be affecting the entire country.
This system has the potential to be damaging with gale force winds affecting much of the country on either Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday (depending on where you live).
Not only that but a polar blast will develop on Wednesday in the far south and reach Auckland on Thursday - so yes, that means an end to the spring like weather that saw me wearing shorts and a T-shirt on Saturday! And seeing as my body hasn't really seen the light of day since March that's probably not a bad thing!
Now if you're travelling anywhere in New Zealand this week then you might want to take note of possible travel problems. Severe gales may affect the Cook Strait ferry service anywhere from Tuesday to Thursday. Those gales may also affect flights into the capital between those same days. On Wednesday gales may affect much of New Zealand so you might want to keep up to date with your airline if flying anywhere across the country.
Snow will fall to low levels in the far south on Wednesday night possibly closing roads and almost certainly closing roads by Thursday. The Desert Road may well be closed to snow on Thursday or Friday.
There is some good news - another dumping of heavy rain is expected for the hydro lakes. I always suspected the winter rains would arrive there.
It's going to be a stormy week for most New Zealanders and many of us will probably have a couple of restless nights due to heavy showers, hail, thunderstorms or gales. Lucky us!
Storm Time Line:
Monday: A short lived breather before the first front approaches. Warm nor'west winds will develop.
Tuesday: Heavy rain sets in to the West Coast with rain spreading to most other places during the day. Nor'west winds picking up to gale force from Canterbury to Wairarapa.
Wednesday: Thunderstorms along the nation's west coast and sou'westers rising to gales force for much of the country. Cold southerlies developing in the far south with snow developing in the mountains and lowering significantly in places like Southland and Otago by dark.
Thursday: Snow to low levels in the South easing, and snow possibly falling on the Desert Road. Severe southerly or sou'easterly gales for the nation's east coast gradually easing during the day.
Friday: Snow still possible on the Desert road and significantly colder over all of New Zealand but conditions improving gradually
The Weather Watch Centre will be closely monitoring this storm with a number of extra updates each day throughout the week.
Aucklanders were rattled awake on Saturday morning then a few random booms and hail storms sent people running for cover during Sunday.
Today we'll see a short breather - not just for Aucklanders but all of New Zealand - ahead of the next big winter storm. The low, which will develop during Monday in the Tasman Sea, between Tasmania and Southland, is expected to rapidly deepen and by mid-week will be affecting the entire country.
This system has the potential to be damaging with gale force winds affecting much of the country on either Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday (depending on where you live).
Not only that but a polar blast will develop on Wednesday in the far south and reach Auckland on Thursday - so yes, that means an end to the spring like weather that saw me wearing shorts and a T-shirt on Saturday! And seeing as my body hasn't really seen the light of day since March that's probably not a bad thing!
Now if you're travelling anywhere in New Zealand this week then you might want to take note of possible travel problems. Severe gales may affect the Cook Strait ferry service anywhere from Tuesday to Thursday. Those gales may also affect flights into the capital between those same days. On Wednesday gales may affect much of New Zealand so you might want to keep up to date with your airline if flying anywhere across the country.
Snow will fall to low levels in the far south on Wednesday night possibly closing roads and almost certainly closing roads by Thursday. The Desert Road may well be closed to snow on Thursday or Friday.
There is some good news - another dumping of heavy rain is expected for the hydro lakes. I always suspected the winter rains would arrive there.
It's going to be a stormy week for most New Zealanders and many of us will probably have a couple of restless nights due to heavy showers, hail, thunderstorms or gales. Lucky us!
Storm Time Line:
Monday: A short lived breather before the first front approaches. Warm nor'west winds will develop.
Tuesday: Heavy rain sets in to the West Coast with rain spreading to most other places during the day. Nor'west winds picking up to gale force from Canterbury to Wairarapa.
Wednesday: Thunderstorms along the nation's west coast and sou'westers rising to gales force for much of the country. Cold southerlies developing in the far south with snow developing in the mountains and lowering significantly in places like Southland and Otago by dark.
Thursday: Snow to low levels in the South easing, and snow possibly falling on the Desert Road. Severe southerly or sou'easterly gales for the nation's east coast gradually easing during the day.
Friday: Snow still possible on the Desert road and significantly colder over all of New Zealand but conditions improving gradually
The Weather Watch Centre will be closely monitoring this storm with a number of extra updates each day throughout the week.
Weather bomb hammers Auckland - storm of the decade
More than 50,000 homes have been left without power in Auckland on Saturday night, as the storm tipped to be one of the biggest to hit New Zealand in a decade causes havoc.
Auckland weather worsened throughout the day with the eye of the storm expected to pass directly over or very near the region.
The MetService has described the storm as 'potentially destructive and dangerous' which has hit Auckland with damaging wind gusts.
The storm whipped waves into a frenzy closing lanes onto the Harbour Bridge.
One boat lost its battle against mother nature, ending up battered against the rocks next to the bridge.
Motorists are still being urged to avoid travelling over it and the speed limit is down to 60 kilometres an hour, as motorists battle 100km winds.
Tamaki Drive along Auckland's waterfront is also closed as the giant waves create entertainment for the family.
Civil Defence advice is to batten down the hatches and only go outdoors if you really need to.
Power Outage
Power is now also being lost to homes in South Auckland as high winds knock down trees and power lines.
Over 53 000 homes in Rodney, Waitakere and North Shore areas have already lost power.
Vector says it is doing everything it can to restore supply but winds are stopping crew from repairing faults on overhead lines.
Power companies are urging people to be cautious and be aware of the potential hazards from fallen power lines.
Vector says it can't give an estimate of when power will be fully restored, and says customers should be prepared for prolonged outages.
Coromandel
The storm is also causing chaos for the Coromandel, with the Kauaeranga River south of Thames bursting its banks, forcing the closure of State Highway 25.
Civil Defence is asking people throughout the Coromandel and the Hauraki Plains to stay home unless absolutely necessarily.
Further South
In the Central North Island the Desert Road is closed by snow, and State Highway 12 in the Far North is affected by flooding.
Strong winds have blown over a campervan on State Highway One, south of Wellsford and two people have been taken to hospital with moderate injuries, including leg fractures.
Cars are also being trapped in floodwaters near Rakauwahia Road.
Police are asking motorists stranded at Whakapapa on Mt Ruapehu to remain in their vehicles and wait for ski field staff to help them off the mountain.
About 100 vehicles are still on the mountain, and staff are working from car park to car park along the Bruce Road to free them.
Auckland weather worsened throughout the day with the eye of the storm expected to pass directly over or very near the region.
The MetService has described the storm as 'potentially destructive and dangerous' which has hit Auckland with damaging wind gusts.
The storm whipped waves into a frenzy closing lanes onto the Harbour Bridge.
One boat lost its battle against mother nature, ending up battered against the rocks next to the bridge.
Motorists are still being urged to avoid travelling over it and the speed limit is down to 60 kilometres an hour, as motorists battle 100km winds.
Tamaki Drive along Auckland's waterfront is also closed as the giant waves create entertainment for the family.
Civil Defence advice is to batten down the hatches and only go outdoors if you really need to.
Power Outage
Power is now also being lost to homes in South Auckland as high winds knock down trees and power lines.
Over 53 000 homes in Rodney, Waitakere and North Shore areas have already lost power.
Vector says it is doing everything it can to restore supply but winds are stopping crew from repairing faults on overhead lines.
Power companies are urging people to be cautious and be aware of the potential hazards from fallen power lines.
Vector says it can't give an estimate of when power will be fully restored, and says customers should be prepared for prolonged outages.
Coromandel
The storm is also causing chaos for the Coromandel, with the Kauaeranga River south of Thames bursting its banks, forcing the closure of State Highway 25.
Civil Defence is asking people throughout the Coromandel and the Hauraki Plains to stay home unless absolutely necessarily.
Further South
In the Central North Island the Desert Road is closed by snow, and State Highway 12 in the Far North is affected by flooding.
Strong winds have blown over a campervan on State Highway One, south of Wellsford and two people have been taken to hospital with moderate injuries, including leg fractures.
Cars are also being trapped in floodwaters near Rakauwahia Road.
Police are asking motorists stranded at Whakapapa on Mt Ruapehu to remain in their vehicles and wait for ski field staff to help them off the mountain.
About 100 vehicles are still on the mountain, and staff are working from car park to car park along the Bruce Road to free them.
New Zealand weathers 'storm bomb'
The country is set to be hit by another storm tomorrow before the clean-up from the weekend's battering is completed.
The third storm to hit in a week will not be as severe as Saturday's but will cover a larger area, the Radio Network's head weather analyst Philip Duncan said.
"Saturday's storm was relatively small in size but big in severity, this next storm won't be as intense but will cover a much bigger area, affecting most of New Zealand," he said.
The bad weather is expected to set in late on Tuesday with heavy rain developing across northern and western regions.
"By Wednesday it should be peaking with torrential rain likely, that on top of the saturated soil following this weekend's storm, could escalate the chances of flooding".
Heavy rain is expected in Northland, Bay of Plenty, Auckland, Waikato, Taranaki, Manawatu, Nelson and West Coast while severe gales are likely in Manawatu, Wellington and Wairarapa.
Power was slowly being restored to thousands of homes today as the North Island recovers from the storm that in some areas was the worst in 30 years.
The third storm to hit in a week will not be as severe as Saturday's but will cover a larger area, the Radio Network's head weather analyst Philip Duncan said.
"Saturday's storm was relatively small in size but big in severity, this next storm won't be as intense but will cover a much bigger area, affecting most of New Zealand," he said.
The bad weather is expected to set in late on Tuesday with heavy rain developing across northern and western regions.
"By Wednesday it should be peaking with torrential rain likely, that on top of the saturated soil following this weekend's storm, could escalate the chances of flooding".
Heavy rain is expected in Northland, Bay of Plenty, Auckland, Waikato, Taranaki, Manawatu, Nelson and West Coast while severe gales are likely in Manawatu, Wellington and Wairarapa.
Power was slowly being restored to thousands of homes today as the North Island recovers from the storm that in some areas was the worst in 30 years.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Tornadoes sweep southern US, killing 52
Dozens of tornadoes sliced across southern US states ripping apart homes and shopping malls, killing at least 52 people and injuring hundreds more, officials and US media said.
Twenty-eight people were killed in Tennessee, 13 in Arkansas, and seven in Kentucky, officials in the three states said.
US media reported hundreds injured, and CNN said four people were killed in Alabama. Local authorities were not immediately available to confirm the toll.
"I've seen tornadoes on the ground and I've seen them in the air, but this was different. This one was wide, a massive funnel," Jean Byrd of Mason, Tennesee, a town of just over 1000 residents, told AFP.
With a sigh of relief, Byrd added: "It touched down just after it passed our house. We were lucky."
President George W. Bush offered prayers and disaster relief. "Prayers can help, and so can the government," Bush said in Washington. "I do want the people in those states that the American people are standing with them."
More than 50 tornadoes touched down as a series of rare winter thunderstorms rolled through the region late Tuesday and early Wednesday.
In Tennessee, twisters knocked down a police radio tower, punched holes in a shopping mall, damaged a hangar at the Memphis airport, and ravaged a university campus, emergency officials said.
Overall, 149 people were injured in the state, said Julie Oaks of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.
"That'll probably be going up through out the day. We have widespread damage across the state," she said.
Students at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, heroically rescued classmates trapped in the dead of night after two campus dormitories collapsed, university president David Dockery said.
Fifty-one students were treated in hospital, including some with extensive injuries. But no one was killed, even though 1200 students were on campus at the time.
"It's an amazing thing," Dockery told a press conference.
The campus has already been rebuilt once after a 2002 tornado caused $3.2 million in damage. Now, "we are estimating that the damage is at least 15 times what that was at that time," he said.
Elsewhere in Tennessee, the Red Cross moved 50 people trapped at a retirement center in Madison County to a shelter, officials said.
But a huge fire that blazed overnight at a storm-damaged gas pumping station northeast of Nashville, part of a 6760km line pumping gas through four southern states, had burned itself out.
In neighboring Kentucky, three people were killed in a trailer park in Muhlenberg County, and four others died in Allen County, Buddy Rogers of the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management told AFP.
In Arkansas at least 13 people were killed Tuesday by tornadoes that tore through the state, injuring dozens and destroying houses and businesses in a number of towns.
Four tornadoes were confirmed by the National Weather Service, and another five were reported but unconfirmed. More here.
Twenty-eight people were killed in Tennessee, 13 in Arkansas, and seven in Kentucky, officials in the three states said.
US media reported hundreds injured, and CNN said four people were killed in Alabama. Local authorities were not immediately available to confirm the toll.
"I've seen tornadoes on the ground and I've seen them in the air, but this was different. This one was wide, a massive funnel," Jean Byrd of Mason, Tennesee, a town of just over 1000 residents, told AFP.
With a sigh of relief, Byrd added: "It touched down just after it passed our house. We were lucky."
President George W. Bush offered prayers and disaster relief. "Prayers can help, and so can the government," Bush said in Washington. "I do want the people in those states that the American people are standing with them."
More than 50 tornadoes touched down as a series of rare winter thunderstorms rolled through the region late Tuesday and early Wednesday.
In Tennessee, twisters knocked down a police radio tower, punched holes in a shopping mall, damaged a hangar at the Memphis airport, and ravaged a university campus, emergency officials said.
Overall, 149 people were injured in the state, said Julie Oaks of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.
"That'll probably be going up through out the day. We have widespread damage across the state," she said.
Students at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, heroically rescued classmates trapped in the dead of night after two campus dormitories collapsed, university president David Dockery said.
Fifty-one students were treated in hospital, including some with extensive injuries. But no one was killed, even though 1200 students were on campus at the time.
"It's an amazing thing," Dockery told a press conference.
The campus has already been rebuilt once after a 2002 tornado caused $3.2 million in damage. Now, "we are estimating that the damage is at least 15 times what that was at that time," he said.
Elsewhere in Tennessee, the Red Cross moved 50 people trapped at a retirement center in Madison County to a shelter, officials said.
But a huge fire that blazed overnight at a storm-damaged gas pumping station northeast of Nashville, part of a 6760km line pumping gas through four southern states, had burned itself out.
In neighboring Kentucky, three people were killed in a trailer park in Muhlenberg County, and four others died in Allen County, Buddy Rogers of the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management told AFP.
In Arkansas at least 13 people were killed Tuesday by tornadoes that tore through the state, injuring dozens and destroying houses and businesses in a number of towns.
Four tornadoes were confirmed by the National Weather Service, and another five were reported but unconfirmed. More here.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Storms halt Indian Pacific in its tracks
Storm damage has halted the Indian Pacific train in western NSW, forcing passengers to take a 1,000km bus ride through flooded countryside.
The Indian Pacific was heading east from Perth and Adelaide towards Sydney on Friday night, when heavy rain in far-west NSW forced the train back to Broken Hill.
Flooding damaged track between Ivanhoe and Condobolin some time between 6pm and midnight (AEDT), a Great Southern Railway spokeswoman said.
In north-western NSW, heavy rain has dumped a record 171mm at Coonamble since midnight and 141mm at nearby Coonabarabran.
Many local roads leading to Coonabarabran have been cut by flooding but the town itself has sustained minor damage, a State Emergency Service spokesman says.
Further north at Baradine, a town of 300, residents are working to sandbag a small levee that has overflowed, causing most of the area to flood.
At Mendooran, the Castlereagh River has exceeded minor flood levels and is expected to rise further this evening, the Bureau of Meteorology reported.
SES spokesman Phil Campbell said emergency crews had received 370 calls from across NSW and were urging people not to "drive, ride or walk near floodwaters".
The Indian Pacific was heading east from Perth and Adelaide towards Sydney on Friday night, when heavy rain in far-west NSW forced the train back to Broken Hill.
Flooding damaged track between Ivanhoe and Condobolin some time between 6pm and midnight (AEDT), a Great Southern Railway spokeswoman said.
In north-western NSW, heavy rain has dumped a record 171mm at Coonamble since midnight and 141mm at nearby Coonabarabran.
Many local roads leading to Coonabarabran have been cut by flooding but the town itself has sustained minor damage, a State Emergency Service spokesman says.
Further north at Baradine, a town of 300, residents are working to sandbag a small levee that has overflowed, causing most of the area to flood.
At Mendooran, the Castlereagh River has exceeded minor flood levels and is expected to rise further this evening, the Bureau of Meteorology reported.
SES spokesman Phil Campbell said emergency crews had received 370 calls from across NSW and were urging people not to "drive, ride or walk near floodwaters".
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
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