SES Southern Zone Commander Chief Superintendent Ben Pickup is encouraging people to download the Hazards Near Me app ahead of an expected severe thunderstorm season. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
Riverina and southern NSW residents are being warned that this summer could bring severe thunderstorms with heavier-than-average rainfall.
After winds of up to 90 km/h caused havoc in the Riverina last week, the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has launched its storm season campaign in the region to prepare households for the possibility of electrical storms, flash flooding, fallen trees and potential property damage during the summer months.
Southern Zone Commander Chief Superintendent Ben Pickup said the Bureau of Meteorology had forecast higher-than-normal temperatures and above-average rainfall in the coming months.
“With more moisture in the atmosphere, it is more than likely to see severe thunderstorms towards the end of the year,” he said.
“We haven’t really experienced storms like the ones predicted, over the last couple of years.
“During the last couple of weeks, we’ve had over 100 callouts due to the damaging winds. I expect to see that continue during the severe thunderstorm period as well.”
Chief Superintendent Pickup said due to the predicted above-average rainfall, combined with the warmer conditions, areas were expected to dry out quickly.
“We really just want to encourage people to monitor conditions as we head into the storm season,” he said.
“We’ve [NSW SES)] been working with the community to help identify potential hazards as well as preparing them and making their properties storm-safe.
“One of the biggest ongoing issues we see is properties with cluttered gutters.
“Making sure people’s gutters are cleared out allows rainfall from storms to run away without flowing into people’s properties.
”Trimming overhanging trees and branches and making sure you stay up to date with the latest warning information available on the SES website is the best way to prepare.”
Chief Superintendent Pickup urged people to download the hazard watch app Hazards Near Me, and warned that thunderstorms could form rapidly and conditions could change quickly.
“It might be blue sky one minute and the next half an hour, you start to see that storm front roll over,” he said.
“We put out warning messages on the hazard watch app if there are any dangers. There isn’t a better way to see what is going on in your area in real time.
“The app sends out advice and warnings as well as giving you the ability to set watch zones.”
To learn whether there are any hazards or warnings in your area, check the NSW SES website here, or download the Hazards Near Me app from the Apple or Google Play stores.
Loading ...
