Minor upper Derwent flooding continues

Bureau of Meteorology, Tasmania

Minor Flood Warning for the River Derwent

Issued at 10:09 am on Saturday 30 July 2016

Flood Warning Number: 6
Minor flooding will continue in the lower reaches of the Derwent River below Meadowbank Dam during Saturday.
Minor flooding is not expected to extend downstream to Macquarie Plains and New Norfolk during Saturday.
Up to 15mm of rainfall was recorded in the River Derwent catchment in the 24 hours to 9 AM Saturday. Snow melt is expected to maintain high river levels throughout the Derwent catchment during Saturday. Further rainfall, up to 15 mm, is possible during Saturday in the upper parts of the River Derwent catchment.
Some storages within the Derwent system are at high levels, with several dams spilling. Lake King William has started to spill for the first time since 2013, resulting in elevated river levels in the River Derwent downstream of the dam.
Strong and dangerous flows may be a hazard throughout the Derwent catchment for the next few days.

River Derwent above River Ouse:

River rises have been observed in the upper reaches of the Derwent catchment. Some storages within the Derwent system are at high levels, with several dams spilling. Lake King William has started to spill for the first time since 2013 resulting in elevated river levels downstream.

River Derwent above Meadowbank Dam:

River rises have been observed in the middle reaches of the Derwent catchment.

River Derwent below Meadowbank Dam:

Minor flooding is occurring along the River Derwent below Meadowbank Dam.

The River Derwent below Meadowbank Dam peaked at 4.45 metres around 02:20 pm Friday 29 July and is currently at 4.30 metres and falling. The River Derwent below Meadowbank Dam may fall below the minor flood level (4.10 m) Saturday evening.
The River Derwent at Macquarie Plains is currently at 3.22 metres and steady. The River Derwent at Macquarie Plains is expected to remain below the minor flood level (4.0 metres) during Saturday.

River Derwent around New Norfolk:

Minor flooding is not expected to extend downstream to New Norfolk.

The River Derwent at New Norfolk is currently at 1.52 metres and rising. The river level at New Norfolk is expected to remain below the minor flood level (2.0 metres) during Saturday.

Flood Safety Advice:

FloodSafe advice is available at www.ses.tas.gov.au
Road closure information is available at www.police.tas.gov.au
For emergency assistance call the SES on telephone number 132 500.
For life threatening situations, call 000 immediately.

Next Issue:

The next warning will be issued by 4pm on Saturday 30 July 2016.

Latest River Heights:

Location	Height of River (m)	Tendency	Date/Time of Observation
River Derwent below Lake St Clair	2.06	Steady	09:00 AM SAT 30/07/16
River Ouse at Ashton	1.61	Rising	08:15 AM SAT 30/07/16
River Ouse at 3B Weir	1.23	Rising	09:00 AM SAT 30/07/16
River Clyde at Bothwell	0.84	Steady	08:00 AM SAT 30/07/16
River Derwent below Meadowbank Dam	4.31	Falling	09:00 AM SAT 30/07/16
River Derwent at Macquarie Plains	3.23	Steady	09:37 AM SAT 30/07/16
Tyenna River at Newbury	0.97	Steady	08:00 AM SAT 30/07/16
Styx River at Bruces Bridge	1.60	Steady	11:09 AM FRI 29/07/16
River Derwent at New Norfolk	1.08	Falling	09:50 AM SAT 30/07/16

This advice is also available by dialling 1300 659 216. Warning, rainfall and river information are available at www.bom.gov.au/tas/flood. The latest weather forecast is available at www.bom.gov.au/tas/forecasts.