On Saturday, April 6th, the Bureau of Meteorology recorded 189 mm of rain within the preceding 24-hour period at the Chatswood Bowling Club.
It was a very wet weekend, and here is how it all unfolded around the Lane Cove Council Area.
Severe Weather Warning Issued by Bureau of Meteorology (BOM)
Friday 5th April 7.32 am
The Bureau of Meteorology at 7.32 am on Friday 5th April issued the following weather alert:
“Severe Weather Warning
for HEAVY, LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL and DAMAGING WINDS
For people in Metropolitan, Illawarra, South Coast, Southern Tablelands and parts of Hunter, Central Tablelands, Snowy Mountains and Australian Capital Territory Forecast Districts.
Widespread heavy to locally intense rainfall and damaging wind gusts expected about central parts of the coast and ranges today, moving south on Saturday.
Weather Situation: A trough is forecast to deepen over eastern New South Wales and along central parts of the coast today and Saturday, under the influence of a slow-moving upper-level low over central New South Wales. Areas of heavy rain and gusty showers are developing south of about Newcastle today, including over the ranges and tablelands. Severe weather is expected to gradually shift south overnight, easing later on Saturday as the trough moves east to the Tasman Sea.
HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is forecast for the southern parts of the Hunter to the Sydney Metropolitan, Illawarra, and Central Tablelands districts today, then shifting south to the remaining districts overnight into Saturday morning while easing from the north. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 50 to 90 mm are likely, reaching up to 130 mm over the Illawarra escarpment. 24 hour totals of 70-120 mm are also likely, reaching up to 150 mm over the Blue Mountains and Illawarra escarpment.
Within the broad heavy rainfall area, locally INTENSE RAINFALL which may lead to DANGEROUS AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING is possible between the Blue Mountains and Narooma from this evening into Saturday morning, with localised six-hourly rainfall totals between 90 to 150 mm possible, reaching up to 220 mm over the Illawarra escarpment. Localised 24-hourly rainfall totals between 120 and 200 mm are possible, and may reach up to 300 mm over the Illawarra escarpment. A separate Severe Thunderstorm Warning will be issued if very dangerous thunderstorms with intense rainfall are detected.
DAMAGING EASTERLY WINDS, averaging 60 to 70 km/h with peak gusts of around 90 km/h are possible from this evening along the coastal strip south of and including the Sydney metro area, as well as adjacent elevated areas, particularly above 500m.
Severe weather is forecast to ease below warning thresholds by Saturday afternoon.
A Flood Watch is current, please refer to http://www.bom.gov.au/nsw/warnings/index.shtml for more information.
Friday 5th April 2024 Midday
The rain was changing between light rain to sudden heavy downfalls back to light rain – however it was continuous.
Friday 5th April 1.30 pm
Friday 5th April 2024 4 pm
ITC starts receiving reports of flooding at the Lane Cove Golf Course. Tje Lane Cove Golf Course is always the first place to flood (it’s an old tip), and Gore Creek runs through it.
A roving reporter took the photos below of the Lane Cove Sport and Rec Construction Area at 180 River Road—it looked more like we are building an Aquatic Centre than a sports and recreation area.
There was flooding on the low lying section of Epping Road, not far from the Centennial Avenue Intersection. Police were in attendance.
“With a month’s worth of rain falling in just over a day, the Sport and Recreation Building Team (ADCO) faced a significant challenge. To reduce the impact, they prepared as much as possible for the weather event.
Their preparations included checking all sediment traps and basins installed along the perimeter fence, a siltation fence, hay bale sediment filters, geotextile filers around pits, and sandbagging of kerb inlets and grates. The perimeter erosion and sediment controls are designed by the project civil engineers and are based on the EPA’s Blue Book for Managing Construction Sediment and Erosion Control. Even EPA best practice programs aren’t designed for extreme weather events such as the volume experienced on Friday.
The sediment control plans have been inspected by the Council’s compliance teams on multiple occasions. They have deemed them appropriate for the site and are satisfied they are being suitably maintained.
The volume of water runoff flowing down the golf course towards the construction site was so severe that it completely took out sections of the perimeter fence, which has concrete footings. It is worth noting that the site received 189mm of rain on Friday alone. See the attached photos of brown water entering the site. As you are aware, the colour and volume of water aren’t necessarily attributed to the golf course site alone; the golf course site always floods during weather like this. We note your video on In the Cove at the 8th Tee, more than 800 metres before the construction site, shows brown water, as does the image you have provided on the right-hand side of the trees in the middle of the fairway that is brown and sediment-free water on the site side to the left.
The team went in on Saturday morning to de-water after the event to minimise any impacts from the sediment in water trapped on site.
ADCO will reset all sediment traps and basins along the perimeter fence, check the siltation fence, install fresh hay bale sediment filters around the pits, and sandbag kerb inlets and grates today to strengthen perimeter controls in anticipation of more rain expected on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.”
Photos Taken On Saturday, 6th 2024, by ITC’s Roving Reporters
Bob Campbell Oval Greenwich
Lane Cove River at Lane Cove North entrance to the Great North Walk
An ITC reader and his father went out on their tinny after seeing the debris floating down the river. Another reader took the first photo from the bridge crossing the river and likened it to the chocolate river in Willy Wonka.
Rainfall Statistics
Rainfall recorded at Chatswood Bowling Club from 1st Jan 2024 to 7th April 2024
Summary of Rainfall Monthly Statistics Recorded at Chatswood Bowling Club Since Recording First Started
Thank You To SES, NSW Fire and Rescue, Other emergency agencies
Thank you to all the emergency workers who responded to numerous issues over the weekend. Much of their work was done in the rain and the dark.
If you would like to join the SES – details here.
Thank you to our amazing roving reporters – we could not operate In the Cove without you.
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