Shops have been evacuated in Cooma. Photo: Nichole Overall, Twitter.
A flash flood has washed out several businesses along the main street of Cooma, forcing evacuations across the centre of the town.
Emergency services teams said they are “assisting the Cooma community with the flash flooding that suddenly hit during a localised storm this morning which has resulted in isolated houses and main road closures”.
Member for Monaro Nichole Overall tweeted a photo of water lapping at the windows of a dry cleaning company and brokerage on Sharp Street.
“Heavy rainfall has caused rapid creek rises and levels are currently peaking,” she said.
She also listed Mulach, Barrack, Boundary, Kerwan and Lambie streets as affected.
The SES is calling for volunteers to help fill sandbags. Photo: NSW SES.
The SES is calling for help filling sandbags. Bags are available for collection from the Cooma Council depot on Polo Flat Road.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said the Cooma Creek at the SMEC site peaked at 2.17 metres just before 9 am on Tuesday (25 October). At Koolaroo, it peaked at 4.01 metres around 8:45 am.
“Heavy rainfall in the Cooma area caused rapid creek rises and major flooding at Cooma, with major peaks at Cooma and Koolaroo during Tuesday morning,” the warning read.
Showers are forecast to ease over the rest of the week. Photo: NSW SES.
At 11:58 am today, they added that major flooding had eased and the creek is below flood level and continuing to fall.
“Rainfall and creek levels have eased and no further flooding is expected.”
Cooma’s weather forecast for Wednesday is for partly cloudy conditions with an 80 per cent chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and early evening, with a maximum temperature of 21 degrees. Showers are forecast to ease over the rest of the week.
Flooding is causing widespread road closures and community isolation in many rural areas across NSW. There are currently 24 emergency warnings in place affecting over 7000 people.
In life-threatening emergencies, call 000 (triple zero) immediately. If you require rescue, assistance to evacuate or other emergency help, ring NSW SES on 132 500.
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