Heavy rains lash Forbes, cause local flooding

Up to five inches of rain fell in Forbes on Friday and Saturday, causing Lake Forbes to swell beyond its banks and close low crossings. The airport recorded a total 77.2mm of rain by Saturday afternoon but rain gauges in town recorded much more, with residents reporting 120mm in the gauge in Oxford Street, 135mm in the gauge in the Johnson / Farrand Street area and 133mm on the river. Lake Forbes swelled to cover Johnny Woods Crossing, Bundaburrah Crossing and parts of the pathways around the lake. The Indoor Pool was closed after being inundated with stormwater following the extraordinary rainfall event. Forbes Shire council said the pool would be thoroughly cleaned and tested due to the unknown nature of the floodwater contaminants, but would be operational by the end of the week. A Bureau of Meteorology spokesperson said the heavy rainfall observed in Forbes, which began after 6pm on Friday, November 29, and persisted until approximately 2pm on Saturday, November 30, was primarily due to a slow-moving trough of low pressure that resulted in thunderstorms and high rainfall rates. The Forbes Automatic Weather Station recorded 46.6mm of rainfall between 9am Friday and 9am Saturday, marking the fifth highest November rainfall observation for the station and the highest since November 14, 2022. "While the official records from the Bureau of Meteorology only include observations from Forbes, it is possible that higher rainfall totals were observed in nearby locations, contributing to the increased water levels in Lake Forbes," the spokesperson said. "The severe thunderstorm warning issued at 6:23am on the 30th of November, which remained in effect until approximately 11:00am, covered Forbes and the surrounding Central West Slopes and Plains, highlighting the potential for flash flooding in the region." NSW State Emergency Service volunteers responded to 51 incidents in the Western Zone in the two days. Forbes Unit responded to 12 incidents, mainly for leaking rooves and trees down, with some flooding on Sam Street. They were called out to two properties with leaking rooves in Parkes and one in Grenfell. NSW SES State Duty Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul McQueen reminded people to stay across the latest warnings and information, and never drive through floodwater. The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted above average rainfall throughout December, and has forecast widespread rain, showers, and thunderstorms with moderate to heavy falls to continue into next week, increasing the risk of flash flooding and riverine rises. Acting Assistant Commissioner McQueen urged residents to know their risk and plan ahead this storm season. “With more rainfall predicted over the summer period, travellers heading to caravan parks and resorts in low lying areas should have a plan and prepare for possible heavy rain, which can lead to flash flooding and riverine rises,” Acting Assistant Commissioner McQueen said. “You don’t know what condition the road underneath the water is in and can’t see hidden obstacles and debris under the surface. Flooded rivers may also contain hidden debris, snakes, spiders, chemicals and sewage.” The NSW SES is also encouraging residents to download the Hazards Near Me app to their smart devices or visit Hazard Watch. "During holiday periods, it's crucial for those unfamiliar with their surroundings to use the Hazards Near Me app. Set a watch zone for your holiday destination to receive alerts about storms, floods, and other hazards, and know how to stay safe," Acting Assistant Commissioner McQueen said.