Source: Bureau of Meteorology

For people in Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands and parts of Hunter, Illawarra, South Coast, North West Slopes and Plains, Central West Slopes and Plains, South West Slopes and Snowy Mountains Forecast Districts.

Issued at 2:38 pm Sunday, 18 February 2024.
HEAVY TO LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL OCCURRING ACROSS CENTRAL EASTERN NEW SOUTH WALES.

Weather Situation: Slow moving severe thunderstorms are ongoing in a humid and unstable airmass along the Great Dividing Ranges this afternoon.

VERY DANGEROUS THUNDERSTORMS are likely to produce heavy, locally intense rainfall that may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding and large hailstones over the next several hours in parts of the Illawarra, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands and Hunter districts. Locations which may be affected include Lithgow, Jenolan Caves, Capertee, Kandos, Oberon and Taralga.

Elsewhere in the warning area, severe thunderstorms are likely to produce large hailstones and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours in the Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands and parts of the Hunter, Illawarra, South Coast, North West Slopes and Plains, Central West Slopes and Plains, South West Slopes and Snowy Mountains districts. Locations which may be affected include Bowral, Orange, Mudgee, Bathurst, Katoomba and Goulburn.

59 mm recorded at Orange Airport in the 2 hours to 1:42 pm.

The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
* Move your car under cover.
* Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.
* Don't walk, ride your bike or drive through flood water.
* If you are trapped by flash flooding, seek refuge in the highest available place and ring 000 if you need rescue.
* Be aware that run-off from rainfall in fire affected areas may behave differently and be more rapid. It may also contain debris such as ash, soil, trees and rocks.
* After bushfires, heavy rain and the loss of foliage can make the ground soft and heavy, leading to a greater chance of landslides.
* Unplug computers and appliances.
* Avoid using the phone during the storm.
* Stay indoors away from windows, and keep children and pets indoors as well.
* Stay vigilant and monitor conditions. Note that the landscape may have changed following bushfires.
* For emergency help in floods and storms, ring the SES (NSW and ACT) on 132 500.