Rain and a river for Christmas!
Towns in western NSW and communities along the Barwon-Darling River are set to benefit from big rainfall over large parts of western NSW and Queensland in the run up to Christmas.
On the weekend good rain fell around Brewarrina, Lightning Ridge, Walgett and Coonamble with rainfall extending up into the Queensland catchments as well.
Over the week ending on Sunday, Brewarrina recorded 96mm and more than 200mm fell on some properties between Coonamble and Walgett.
Lightning Ridge recorded 70mm, Mungindi had 150mm, Wee Waa 128, Walgett 51, Pilliga 65, Narrabri 90, Nyngan 59, Cobar 31 and Bourke 28mm (up until Tuesday) and more rain is forecast
Further west Tibooburra Airport recorded 55mm, Wanaaring 38, Hungerford 30, Wilcannia 22 and White Cliffs 15.
Rivers are rising fast the top of the Barwon-Darling River – especially from the Moonie River in Queensland. Flows are also heading down the Paroo and Warrego Rivers where flood warnings have been issued by the Bureau of Meteorology.
Localised storms have caused significant river level rises along the Barwon and Moonie Rivers upstream of Collarenebri where minor flooding was occurring on Monday and Tuesday.
The main flood peak is moving downstream causing minor flooding at Walgett. On Tuesday, the Bureau said it expected the Barwon River at Walgett to reach the minor flood level of 10.50 metres late this week.
Collarenebri, Walgett, Brewarrina, Bourke, Louth, Tilpa, and Wilcannia are all expected to benefit from the flows – guaranteeing good water supplies through the Christmas break, New year and beyond.
Bourke Shire Council General Manager Leonie Brown said that Bourke couldn’t have received better news than this, especially at the beginning of an expected hot summer.
“The river at Bourke has been dropping towards a no flow level and once that happens, we have to implement water restrictions at Bourke,” Mrs Brown said.
“So, to hear that there are flooding flows at the top of the river is great news for communities along the river including for Bourke and Louth in the Bourke Shire.”
Many Bourke residents will remember the drought of 2018-2020 when the river ran dry, forcing extreme water restrictions on the town. […]
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