Initial flood watch for River Derwent

Bureau of Meteorology, Tasmania

Note: This Flood Watch is a "heads up" for possible future flooding and is NOT a Flood Warning.

Initial Flood Watch for Huon, Derwent and South East catchments

Issued at 12:22pm on Friday 9 August 2019

By the Bureau of Meteorology, Hobart.

Flood Watch Number: 1

Flooding may develop from overnight Friday into Saturday in the flood watch catchments. Rainfall amounts will depend on the position of the low.

A deep low pressure system situated to the southeast of Tasmania will move broadly westward to be closer to the State Friday evening. The low will move northwards on Saturday. Widespread rain and showers are expected in south and southeastern parts of the State.

Huon and Derwent catchments are wet from winter rainfall. Catchments in the south east and east are dry to very dry.

Widespread rainfall totals of 15-25 mm in the south are expected for the remainder of Friday. Additional rainfall totals of 20-40 mm in the south and 10-20 mm in the east are forecast for Saturday, with higher totals possible in elevated areas.

Showers are expected on Sunday with 10-25 mm forecast in the south and lower east.

River rises are expected and flooding may develop in some catchments as a result of the forecast rainfall.

Strong and dangerous flows may be a hazard over the next couple of days.

Catchments likely to be affected include:

Huon River

Channel Coastal Rivers (South East Cape to Gordon)

Derwent River

Jordan River

Coal River

East Coastal Rivers (south of Bicheno)

South East

Note: This Flood Watch is a "heads up" for possible future flooding and is NOT a Flood Warning. The Bureau of Meteorology does not provide a flood warning service for all of the catchments covered by this flood watch. For more information on the Flood Watch Service: http://www.bom.gov.au/water/floods/floodWarningServices.shtml

For the latest warnings see www.bom.gov.au/tas/warnings

For the latest rainfall and river level information see www.bom.gov.au/tas/flood

For the latest weather forecast see www.bom.gov.au/tas/forecasts

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 Flood Watch will be issued by 11am on Saturday 10 August 2019.