Floods in New South Wales

{{Short description|List of floods in New South Wales, Australia}}

{{Use Australian English|date=September 2016}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}

Australian rivers have been subject to devastating floods in New South Wales, recorded since colonisation.{{cite web |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/result?q=flooding+new+south+wales |title=Search: Flooding in New South Wales |work=Trove |via=National Library of Australia |access-date=18 September 2016}} Flooding in New South Wales has predominately been caused by excessive flows into rivers located in New South Wales and, to a lesser extent, excessive flows into rivers located in Queensland and Victoria. Floods can devastate local communities and impact the entire local economy.{{cite web |url=http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/the-worst-floods-in-australian-history.htm |title=Floods: 10 of the deadliest in Australian history |author1=Carbone, Delana |author2=Hanson, Jenna |date=8 March 2012 |access-date=18 September 2016 |work=Australian Geographic |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127022836/http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/journal/the-worst-floods-in-australian-history.htm |archive-date=27 January 2013 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}

The principal topographic feature of New South Wales is the series of low highlands and plateaus called the Great Dividing Range, which extend from north to south roughly parallel to the coast of the Coral and Tasman seas of the South Pacific Ocean. Flooding occurs both west and east of the Range, although the prevalence and impact of flooding of rivers that flow easterly towards the coast is more pronounced due to larger flows of water and high population levels.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}} The principal meteorological cause of flooding is the Australian east coast low.

Australia experienced significant flooding disasters in 2010 and 2011 with a series of floods that occurred during March 2010 in Queensland and Victoria; and again in Victoria in September, in Queensland during December 2010 and February 2011, and in Wollongong in March 2011.{{cite journal |author1=Cheong, France |author2=Cheong, Christopher |year=2011 |url=http://aisel.aisnet.org/pacis2011/46/ |title=Social Media Data Mining: A Social Network Analysis Of Tweets During The 2010–2011 Australian Floods |journal=PACIS 2011 Proceedings |volume=Paper 46 |format=abstract |isbn=978-1-86435-644-1 }} The Victorian and Queensland floods, although occurring in other states, were deemed to be one of the worst floods Australia and New South Wales had experienced.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}} In 2021, there was a huge flood in NSW and Queensland.

Major flood events

= Gundagai, 1831, 1844, 1852, 1891, 1925, 1974, 2010 and 2012 =

{{Main|Gundagai#Floods{{!}}Gundagai floods}}

Gundagai is a small rural town located on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River in the South West Slopes region. The town was subject to flooding through a series of events during the 19th century. The Murrumbidgee has risen above {{Convert|7|m|ft|0}} at Gundagai nine times between 1852 and 2010, an average of just under once every eleven years. Since 1925, flooding has been minor with the exception of floods in 1974 and in December 2010, when the river rose to {{Convert|10.2|m|ft|0}} at Gundagai.{{cite news |title=Evacuation begins |url=http://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/evacuation-begins/2016788.aspx |access-date=5 December 2010 |work=The Daily Advertiser |date=5 December 2010}}

The Gundagai floods of 25 June 1852 were some of the worst to ever hit Australia.{{cite web|author=Carr, Bob: (Maroubra—Premier, Minister for the Arts, and Minister for Citizenship) |author-link=Bob Carr |date=25 June 2002 |url=http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA20020625003 |title=Gundagai Flood Sesquicentenary |work=NSW Legislative Assembly Hansard; Ministerial statement |publisher=Parliament of New South Wales |access-date=14 January 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929104606/http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA20020625003 |archive-date=29 September 2007 |df=dmy-all }} By 24 June the township was isolated and incredibly wet, with almost three weeks of heavy rain. It is believed that at least 89 people perished as a result of the flooding of the Murrumbidgee, the most Australia has ever seen from flooding.{{cite web|title=1852, June, Gundagai flood|url=http://www.emergency.nsw.gov.au/content.php/636.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110327144603/http://www.emergency.nsw.gov.au/content.php/636.html|archive-date=27 March 2011|website=Emergency New South Wales|publisher=Ministry of Police and Emergency Services|access-date=23 April 2013}} The number of residents living in Gundagai at that time was estimated to have been 250; accounting for at least 35 per cent of the population to be taken as a result of the floods.{{cite web |url=http://floodlist.com/australia/gundagai-floods-1852 |title=Gundagai Floods 1852 |work=Floodlist |author=Davies, Richard |date=12 April 2013 |access-date=18 September 2016 }}{{cite book |last=Butcher |first=Cliff |year=2002 |title=Gundagai: A track winding back |publisher=A. C. Butcher |location=Gundagai, NSW, Australia |isbn=0-9586200-0-8 | pages = 84–98 |chapter=Chapter 9 Floods}} Following the 1852 floods, the town was rebuilt on higher ground.

In 1925, four people died and the flooding of the Murrumbidgee at Gundagai lasted for eight days.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2121432 |title=Disastrous Floods. – Many Families Homeless – Four Men Drowned |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=29 May 1925 |access-date=18 July 2014 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2121442 |title=HEAVY LOSSES AT GUNDAGAI. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=29 May 1925 |access-date=20 February 2016 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}[http://www.ema.gov.au/ema/emadisasters.nsf/6a1bf6b4b60f6f05ca256d1200179a5b/f8472dcf9b9c1767ca256d3300058003?OpenDocument Australian Government Emergency Management database] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060924053953/http://www.ema.gov.au/ema/emadisasters.nsf/6a1bf6b4b60f6f05ca256d1200179a5b/f8472dcf9b9c1767ca256d3300058003?OpenDocument |date=24 September 2006 }} Major flooding occurred during March 2012 along the Murrumbidgee River including downriver of Gundagai at Wagga Wagga, where the river peaked at {{convert|10.56|m|ft}} on 6 March 2012.{{cite news|last=Kwek|first=Glenda|title=Wagga 'dodges a bullet' as severe weather warning issued for Sydney|url=http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/wagga-dodges-a-bullet-as-severe-weather-warning-issued-for-sydney-20120307-1uj2d.html|access-date=11 March 2012|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=7 March 2012}} This peak was {{convert|0.18|m|ft}} below the 1974 flood level of {{convert|10.74|m|ft}}.{{cite web |title=Murrumbidgee River & Floods |url=http://www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/city-of-wagga-wagga/wagga-wagga/murrumbidgee-river-and-floods |publisher=Wagga Wagga City Council |access-date=11 March 2012 |archive-date=6 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806034448/http://www.wagga.nsw.gov.au/city-of-wagga-wagga/wagga-wagga/murrumbidgee-river-and-floods |url-status=dead }}

= Hunter Valley, 1955 =

{{Main|1955 Hunter Valley floods}}

Heavy rain had fallen over much of eastern Australia from October 1954 when, on 23 February 1955, an intensifying monsoon depression moved south from Queensland. Torrential rain developed, particularly over the area of New South Wales from {{NSWcity|Warren}} to {{NSWcity|Cassilis}}. Rainfall totals exceeded {{convert|250|mm}} in 24 hours between Nevertire and Dunedoo, a phenomenal amount for this area. Heavy rains then moved east across the Liverpool Range and down the Hunter Valley. With intense rain falling on already saturated ground, the Hunter River, along with several westward-flowing rivers, soon reached unprecedented levels.{{cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/lam/climate/levelthree/c20thc/flood5.html |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20090317054300/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/96122/20090317-1643/www.bom.gov.au/lam/climate/levelthree/c20thc/flood5.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-03-17 |title=Hunter Valley, February 1955 |work=Bureau of Meteorology |via=National Library of Australia |date=2009 |access-date=18 September 2016 }}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

The Hunter Valley flood occurred on 23 February and resulted in 24 deaths, predominately in {{NSWcity|Singleton}} and {{NSWcity|Maitland}}. Five people lost their lives due to electrocution during rescue operations. A total of 7,000 buildings and homes were damaged. The total cost of the flood was approximately {{AUD}}1.3 billion. The cleanup from the flood took months and as time passed homes were restored and businesses reopened.{{cite web |url=http://www.hunterweather.com/events.php?id=41 |title=Hunter Floods of 1955 – 50 year commemoration |work=Hunter Valley Weather |author=Grugeon, Tim |date=23 February 2005 |access-date=18 September 2016 }}

= Murray River, 1956 =

{{Main|1956 Murray River flood}}

While there were no deaths, the 1956 flood of the Murray River was significant in its duration, extending over seven months, and its impact on the Far West Region of New South Wales and those parts of Victoria and South Australia west of {{NSWcity|Wentworth}}, where the Murray reaches its confluence with the Darling River. The floods led to the construction of the Menindee Lakes as a flood mitigation tool on the Darling.{{cite web|url=http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/murray/content/dwindlingRiver/floodsDroughtsIntro.htm |title=Past droughts and floods |publisher=State Library of South Australia |access-date=15 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070830180712/http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/murray/content/dwindlingRiver/floodsDroughtsIntro.htm |archive-date=30 August 2007 |df=dmy }}{{cite web |url=http://www.murrayriver.com.au/about-the-murray/1956-murray-river-floods/ |title=1956 Murray River Floods |work=Discover Murray Mallee |access-date=18 September 2016 }}{{cite press release |url=http://www.unisa.edu.au/news/media2002/130902.htm |title=The greatest River Murray flood eclipses 1956 levels |publisher=University of South Australia |date=13 September 2002 |access-date=18 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206204122/http://www.unisa.edu.au/news/media2002/130902.htm |archive-date=6 February 2012}}{{cite book |title=Renmark's Railway Flood Operations 1931 and 1956 |author=Shields, B. P. |publisher=Australian Railway History |date=March 2004 |pages=88–91 }}

= Hawkesbury and Georges River, 1986 =

6 dead, 10,000 homes damaged, an estimated $35M in damages. With the rainfall reaching {{convert|327.6|mm}} in 24 hours, this day has been dubbed Sydney's wettest day ever. The torrential rain created chaos, with flooded roads prompting many motorists to abandon their cars. Bus services were severely disrupted in the city and trains were halted due to flooded tunnels.

= Hunter Valley and Central Coast, 2007 =

{{Main|June 2007 Hunter Region and Central Coast storms}}

An intense east coast low pressure system developed on 8 June. Over the next 36 hours, the Hunter Valley and Central Coast were battered by the system's strong winds and torrential rain, which caused extensive flooding, damage, loss of life and the grounding of a {{convert|225|m|ft|-long|adj=mid}} bulk carrier. The strongest observed wind gusts were {{convert|135|km/h}} at Norah Head and {{convert|124|km/h}} at {{NSWcity|Newcastle}}. A family of four and a nephew were killed when a section of road collapsed under their car as they drove along the Pacific Highway at Somersby on the Central Coast. Two people died when their four-wheel drive was swept off a bridge by floodwaters at Clarence Town and a man died near Lambton when he was swept into a storm-water drain. The following day, a man died when a tree fell onto his vehicle at Brunkerville. Another man died during a house fire that, it is believed, was started by a candle being used during the blackouts caused by the storm.{{Cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/body-find-brings-toll-to-nine/2007/06/10/1181414111373.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1 |publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald |title=Body find brings toll to nine |date=10 June 2007}}{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21883398-661,00.html|title=Floods spark disease fear|author=Warner, Michael |work=Herald Sun |date=11 June 2007}} The total death toll rose to ten. On 10 June approximately 4,000 residents in the riverside communities of central Maitland, South Maitland and {{NSWcity|Lorn}} were evacuated from their homes in anticipation that the Hunter River would breach its levee system.{{Cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/floodwaters-will-breach-levee/2007/06/10/1181414117385.html |publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald |title=Floodwaters 'will breach levee' |date=10 June 2007}} Evacuation centres were set up at East Maitland and Maitland High School. However, by the morning of 11 June the floodwater had peaked without breaking the levee bank.{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200706/s1947341.htm |title=Central Maitland escapes peak of Hunter flood |location=Australia |work=ABC News |date=11 June 2007}}

= Wollongong, 2011 =

{{Main|2011 Wollongong floods}}

The March 2011 flood of Wollongong and the Illawarra region were the result of a storm cell covering most of the southern regions of the state and torrential rain in suburban Sydney and nearby regional areas. The Bureau of Meteorology issued flash flood warnings for the South Coast, Riverina, Illawarra, South West Slopes, Snowy Mountains and Southern Tablelands, with heavy rain expected to continue.{{cite news |url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/heavy-rains-threaten-nsw-preschool-20110321-1c36l.html |title=One dead as floods cause havoc in NSW |access-date=21 March 2011 |date=21 March 2011 |work=Sydney Morning Herald}}{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/21/3169552.htm?site=illawarra§ion=news&date=(none) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112120805/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/21/3169552.htm?site=illawarra§ion=news&date=(none) |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 November 2012 |title=Body found after south coast drenching |work=ABC Illawarra NSW |access-date=21 March 2011 |date=21 March 2011 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}} In the first 48 hours of the flood (20–21 March) {{convert|160|mm}} of rain has fallen in Wollongong. Robertson in the Southern Highlands recorded the state's highest rainfall on 21 March with {{convert|83|mm}} equalling the March record for 2003.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/21/3169383.htm?site=illawarra§ion=news&date=(none) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112120032/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/21/3169383.htm?site=illawarra§ion=news&date=(none) |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 November 2012 |title=Heavy rainfalls lash Illawarra and South Coast |work=ABC Illawarra NSW |access-date=21 March 2011 |date=21 March 2011 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}} A man was believed to have drowned after his body was found at a stormwater bridge at Warilla.

= Northern New South Wales, 2012 =

Heavy rain began falling over Queensland in early 2012 and then moved south resulting in floods in central and western Victoria, NSW and Tasmania.{{cite web |author=Bliss, S. |year=2011 |url=http://search.informit.com/documentSummary;dn=148910001719421;res=IELHSS |title=No title |work=search.informit.com }}{{dead link|date=September 2016}} The flooding event of March 2012 saw 75 per cent of New South Wales under flood warnings, forcing evacuations and natural disaster declarations.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-24/south-east-nsw-flooding---feb-2012/3857502 |title=NSW and Victoria flooding – March 2012 |work=ABC News |location=Australia |date=3 February 2016 |access-date=18 September 2016 }} It was estimated that 16,500 people across New South Wales were isolated. With many parts of the NSW still under water it was impossible to gauge the damage to public and private infrastructure—which could run as high as {{AUD}}1 billion.{{cite news |url=http://www.afr.com/p/home/too_early_to_cost_flood_impact_swan_AaAHm4cYf3071sVq6Y6qcO |title=Too early to cost flood impact: Swan |work=Financial Review |date=2012 |access-date=18 September 2016 }}

= Northern New South Wales, 2013 =

{{Main|Cyclone Oswald#Floods and severe weather{{!}}Northern New South Wales, 2013}}

On 17 January Tropical Cyclone Oswald, that had formed in the Gulf of Carpentaria, initiated 11 days of heavy rains off the Queensland coast in the Wide Bay–Burnett area. Major flood warnings were issued for the Bellinger, Kallang, Macleay, Manning, Nambucca, and Tweed Rivers, as well as Camden Haven, the Clarence Valley (including the Orara River), and Hastings. Severe weather warnings were also in place for much of the state, indicating the threat of heavy rains, destructive winds, and dangerous seas.{{cite web |author1=Gridneff, Ilya |author2=Levy, Megan |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=28 January 2013 |access-date=29 January 2013 |title=Lismore residents prepare to evacuate as torrential rain and wild winds head towards Sydney |url=http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/lismore-residents-prepare-to-evacuate-as-torrential-rain-and-wild-winds-head-towards-sydney-20130128-2dftd.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128155350/http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/lismore-residents-prepare-to-evacuate-as-torrential-rain-and-wild-winds-head-towards-sydney-20130128-2dftd.html |archive-date=28 January 2013 |df=dmy }}

An estimated 41,000 people were temporarily isolated by flooding in New South Wales. In the Tweed Valley the Tweed River peaked at {{convert|3.3|m}} on 28 January, the highest level recorded in 30 years.{{Cite news |url=http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2013/01/30/446338_tweed-byron-news.html |title=Floods cut off thousands across Tweed |author=Westthorp, Tanya |author2=Case, Ben |access-date=30 January 2013 |date=30 January 2013 |work=goldcoast.com.au }} In Grafton the Clarence River peaked a new record height of {{convert|8.1|m}}.{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-30/thousands-displaced-as-flood-threat-continues/4490194 |title=Thousands isolated as flood threat continues |access-date=30 January 2013 |date=30 January 2013 |work=ABC News }} Records for the river height in Grafton go back to 1839. The city's levee was credited with preventing more severe flooding. Despite that, around 1,500 people who lived closed to the Clarence River were asked to evacuate on the night of 28 January.{{Cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/queensland-floods/flood-disaster-engulfs-two-states/story-fn7iwx3v-1226563835193 |title=Flood disaster engulfs two states |author1=Walker, Jamie |author2=Barrett, Rosanne |access-date=1 February 2013 |date=29 January 2013 |newspaper=The Australian}} Maclean was spared flooding from the Clarence River due to the town's levee.{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2013/01/30/3679110.htm?site=northcoast |title=Clarence Valley faces record clean-up |access-date=1 February 2013 |date=30 January 2013 |work=ABC North Coast New South Wales |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation }} The Clarence Valley was not as fortunate, with many properties cut off and without power. The area was officially declared a disaster zone, as was the Tweed Shire. Minor flooding and road closures were experienced in the Hunter Valley.{{Cite news |url=http://www.huntervalleynews.net.au/story/1265341/no-escape-for-upper-hunter/?cs=1205 |title=No escape for Upper Hunter |author=Post, Stacey |date=30 January 2013 |newspaper=Hunter Valley News |access-date=4 December 2013}}

= Northern NSW after Cyclone Debbie, 2017 =

In the aftermath of Cyclone Debbie in March 2017, Northern NSW was again badly affected by flooding. Lismore was the worst affected with up to {{convert|3.5|m}} through all CBD businesses. Wilsons River reached {{convert|11.6|m}} and the levee, finished in 2005, was overtopped.{{cite news |title=NSW flooding: Lismore ordered to evacuate, Murwillumbah residents stuck on roofs |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-31/floods-hit-northern-nsw-with-heavy-rain,-winds,-floods/8402788 |access-date=10 April 2017 |work=ABC News |date=31 March 2017}}{{cite news |last1=Hansen|first1=Jane |title=Cyclone Debbie aftermath: Lismore floods tear heart out of city business zone |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/cyclone-debbie-aftermath-lismore-floods-tear-heart-out-of-city-business-zone/news-story/90b578312ce2ab830ae8fc6b3a1bd2ef |access-date=10 April 2017 |work=The Sunday Telegraph |date=2 April 2017}}

= Central West and Riverina, 2016 =

The Bureau of Meteorology declared 2016 as the third-wettest winter on record.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-02/rain-wipes-out-nsw-crops-in-third-wettest-winter-on-record/7810722 |author=Woodburn, Joanna |title=Rain wipes out NSW crops in third wettest winter on record |work=ABC News |location=Australia |date=2 September 2016 |access-date=4 November 2016}} Unseasonal heavy rainfall in most of the state, centred on the catchment area of the upper Lachlan River during autumn and winter 2016, resulted in Wyangala Dam increasing its storage capacity from 38 per cent to 90 per cent.{{cite news |author=Houghton, Jack |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/technology/nsw-floods-forbes-on-alert-as-lachlan-river-threatens-to-rise/news-story/cec58426a60adc45091a183800fbb86b |title=Lachlan River threatens to rise |work=Daily Telegraph |date=26 September 2016 |access-date=4 November 2016}} By early August, the Bureau of Meteorology had issued flood warnings for the Orara, Macquarie, Bogan and Lachlan rivers.{{cite news |url=http://www.theland.com.au/story/4077935/four-flood-warnings-in-place-across-nsw/ |title=Four flood warnings in place across NSW |work=The Land |date=5 August 2016 |access-date=4 November 2016}} In late August, Water NSW began releasing up to {{convert|10000|ML}} per day from Wyangala Dam ahead of expected daily rainfall in the range of {{convert|20|to|40|mm}} in the dam's catchment area.{{cite news |url=http://www.forbesadvocate.com.au/story/4129598/dam-nearing-capacity/ |title=Dam nearing capacity |work=Forbes Advocate |date=30 August 2016 |access-date=4 November 2016}} Moderate to major flooding first hit {{NSWcity|Forbes}} and Condobolin in early September,{{cite web|url=http://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/news/76365/77639 |title=Flooding Update for Tuesday 6th September 2016 |work=State Emergency Service|date=6 September 2016 |access-date=4 November 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105033049/http://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/news/76365/77639 |archive-date=5 November 2016 |df=dmy-all }} and by mid-September predictions were for widespread flooding across most of inland New South Wales.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-02/rain-wipes-out-nsw-crops-in-third-wettest-winter-on-record/7810722 |author1=Pearce, Melanie |author2=Manson, Skye |author3=Clift, Julie |author4=Wong, Luke |title=NSW weather: More rain and flooding in central areas as saturated catchments can't dry out |work=ABC News |location=Australia |date=13 September 2016 |access-date=4 November 2016}} By late September, flooding had peaked in Forbes at {{convert|10.67|m}}, with 1,000 people evacuated, as the Newell Highway was cut north and south of Forbes' central business district. Back up support was provided by the State Emergency Service and the Australian Defence Force.{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-27/forbes-declared-a-natural-disaster-zone-due-to-flooding/7880592 |title=NSW weather: Forbes declared a natural disaster zone after flooding |work=ABC News |location=Australia |date=28 September 2016 |access-date=4 November 2016}}{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/flood-emergency-in-forbes-nsw-as-rivers-set-to-peak-on-sunday-night-20160924-grntyc.html |author1=Levy, Megan |author2=Dumas, Megan |title=Floodwaters peak in Forbes, but more wet weather is on its way |work=Sydney Morning Herald |date=26 September 2016 |access-date=4 November 2016}}{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/floodhit-nsw-towns-forbes-and-condobolin-brace-for-more-damage-20160926-groypr.html |author1=Levy, Megan |author2=Dumas, Megan |author3=Mitchell, Georgina |agency=AAP |title=Flood-hit NSW towns Forbes and Condobolin brace for more damage |work=Sydney Morning Herald |date=27 September 2016 |access-date=4 November 2016}} As the Lachlan flowed into the Murrumbidgee, major flooding occurred downriver during late October and early November at Hay, Darlington Point, Carrathool and Hillston.{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/story/4154412/riverina-floods-2016-rolling-coverage-photos/ |title=Flood coverage for Wagga and Riverina |work=The Daily Advertiser |location=Wagga Wagga |date=31 October 2016 |access-date=4 November 2016}} The body of a man from {{NSWcity|Burcher}} was found, presumably drowned.{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-06/body-found-near-forbes-identified-as-missing-man-robert-linnane/7907408 |title=Body found near Forbes identified as missing Burcher man Robert Linnane |date=6 October 2016|website=ABC News|location=Australia|language=en-AU|access-date=4 November 2016}}

= NSW North Coast Floods, December 2020 – March 2021 =

{{Main|2021 New South Wales floods}}

In late March 2021, a series of floods affected the east coast of New South Wales from the North Coast to the Sydney metropolitan area in a disaster described by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian as a "one-in-100-year event", in addition to being the most significant flood event in 60 years in parts of the state.[https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/photos-that-show-the-devastation-caused-by-floods-in-nsw/news-story/82e8f3b2820fd5db98e1759b86cda366 Photos that show the devastation caused by floods in NSW] by News.com.au. 22 March 2021 The Australian government had declared many parts of the east coast a natural disaster zone after the flooding rains which forced thousands to evacuate.[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-20/nsw-severe-weather-warnings-see-evacuations-rescues/13264384 House floats down river in Wingham as dangerous weather system leaves a path of destruction] by ABC News. 20 March 2021

= Eastern Australia Floods, February 2022 =

{{Main|2022 eastern Australia floods}}

In February 2022, heavy floods occurred in the Wide Bay–Burnett, South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers of New South Wales. The city of Brisbane suffered major flooding, along with the cities of Maryborough, Gympie, the Sunshine Coast, Caboolture, Toowoomba, Ipswich, Logan City, the Gold Coast, Murwillumbah, Grafton and Lismore.

See also

References

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