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 NSW: Thunderstorms bring heaviest rain in months
A slow-moving surface trough, accompanied by cold upper air and strong instability, crossed the eastern half of NSW today spawning widespread thunderstorms and rain areas. Because of their slow movement, the storms produced some heavy rainfall totals, most particularly along the coast from Kiama to Taree including the eastern half of the Sydney metro area. Some heavy downpours were Canterbury Racecourse 43.8mm in the hour to 12.30pm, Sydney Airport 37.6mm 11.30am to 1.30pm, Marrickville 46mm 11am to 1pm, Frenchs Forest 44mm noon to 1pm, Kiama 10.6mm in 33 minutes to 3pm followed by 39mm 6 to 9pm, Gosford (Narara) 17.6mm 30 minutes to 1pm, Blacksmiths (Lake Macquarie) 22mm 2 to 3pm, and on the Mid North Coast Tiona 33mm 4 to 6pm, Comboyne (Thone River) 47mm 3 to 6pm and Taree Airport 11mm in just 8 minutes to 5pm. (See downpours for more details and further information in the Daily Weather Summary for Monday.)
There was flash flooding around Sydney's inner west and lower North Shore, with the SES reporting 81 callouts. 27 students and their teachers were marooned overnight at Garie Beach in the Royal National Park when their tents were washed away or blown down.
In the Riverina, thunderstorms brought localised flash flooding and hail. Mates Gully Road north of Tarcutta was inundated after a reported 3 inches (75mm) of rain fell in about an hour around 9.30pm. Dams that were empty were filled, and freshly-mown hay and fences ruined. Earlier, West Wyalong Aiport recorded 14mm in the hour to 3pm.
 WA, QLD, NSW: Bushfires continue. Firefighters continue to fight fires in three states. In WA, a fire on the coast west of Margaret River has burnt through 350 hectares and threatened homes and sheds before being contained today. In QLD, 3 fires broke out this morning, two near Bundaberg and one at Ross Creek near Gympie. A fire at Gaeta, west of Bundaberg, has burnt through 350 hectares and is now contained. In NSW, containment work continues on fires 20km NW of Moonbi north of Tamworth (150 hectares), and 30km SE of Barraba. The fire at Brooms Head east of Grafton continues behind containment lines and has now burnt through 13,000 hectares, while another 35km NW of Grafton has consumed 700ha. Light rain is assisting containment of a fire in the Blue Mountains that has burnt through about 600ha 10km south of Wentworth Falls.
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