The Bureau of Meteorology and NSW SES have cancelled all flood and severe weather warnings for the New England as the predicted heavy rain failed to materialise in much of the region.
While most parts of the New England got some rain, it was far from the 100ml plus forecast. Many locals were hoping for more to fill the water tanks that were getting a little low with the recent dry weather. Elevated river levels are still likely as water makes its way down from flooded rivers to the north, but flooding is no longer expected on the Gwydir, Peel or Namoi River systems.
Of the last week total rain over the major centres, as recorded by the Bureau, Tenterfield and Guyra fared best with over 80ml each. At the other end of the spectrum, the places with most significant flood warnings – Mungindi, Moree, and Narrabri – barely settled the dust. The forecast is for more showers and possible thunderstorms for today and tomorrow, likely returning to sunny conditions by the weekend, but further significant falls are unlikely this week.
Town 7 Day Rainfall Total to 9am Wed 12/3/2025 Deepwater 51ml Armidale 46ml Glen Innes 66ml Guyra 82ml Inverell 65ml Barraba 40ml Tenterfield 84ml Gunnedah 28ml Moree 7ml Mungindi 6ml Narrabri 7ml Tamworth 15ml Quirindi 33ml Warialda 47ml
The lower than expected falls are a stark contrast with totals of some very close neighbours, and indicative of the unpredictable behaviour of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, with Drake recording 297ml, Bonalbo 207ml, Tabulam 303ml, and Point Lookout in the New England National Park – a mere 76km due east of Armidale – got a whopping 618ml in the same period.
A number of relieved local SES crews – as well as crew from Tamworth Regional Council – will be heading east to help our neighbours, with most of the coast from Port Macquarie to the Queensland border still dealing with the flooding and clean up from the cyclone.
Waterfall Way between Thora and Dorrigo remains closed due to fallen trees and debris, and there is still some water over minor roads in the region, but most are reopened. This includes the Gwydir Highway, which is both open and has been declared safe for the Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classic, which is going ahead as scheduled this weekend.
Top image: water on the roadside but far from the floods predicted in Gunnedah (Meg Wilkin; New England Times)
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