Severe storm catches NSW by surprise

[Hillbilly]

Well. it finally rained in NSW. And boy did it rain! Most of the NSW Central Coast, Hunter, parts of Newcastle are without power, cellphones, and roads. Power may not be restored in some areas for up to a week. To give you an idea of just howmauch it rained, what was once the shores of Lake Macquarie are now under 4 feet of water - salt water. There was so much rain and the 160km/hr+ winds last night, that my neighbours lower rooms flooded from under the floorboards. The ground was that saturated. We got off light with just a few leaks. You can read more here:

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=272221

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=272223

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=272216

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=272217

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=272113

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=272035

[Steam]

This was the most interesting part of the storm. Wow!

[tri boy]

Thanks for the articles Hillbilly.
Mother nature certainly can dish it out sometimes.
Thoughts going out to the families affected.

[Mully]

This was the most interesting part of the storm. Wow!

If they don't get that thing out of there pretty smartly, it'll start breaking up. Heard it was full of fuel too.

[johnnyflash]

And according to todays wearther forecast its now heading for NZ and will bring some shitty weather "capable of causing damage" is the advice from the metservice.. and here I was keen to get out today for a few Kms, but Im beggared if I want to clean the bike for just a few kms LOL

[Steam]

If they don't get that thing out of there pretty smartly, it'll start breaking up. Heard it was full of fuel too.

Yeah, about 700 tons of fuel, enough to do some real damage. They'll get most of it off, but the ship is there for good. There's no way they can get that off. They'll have to cut it up and scrap it, haul the bits away on trucks.

[merv]

I'm coming over to Sydney on Sunday so hopefully it will be the lull after the storm then and we'll have perfect weather.

Did the rain fall in the right places to fill your water reservoirs though?

[Swoop]

This was the most interesting part of the storm. Wow!

Had to chuckle with several members sig-lines at the moment.
Land kills ships quicker than the sea. Ports are not safe, that is why ships leave when bad weather approaches.
Sounds like this skipper is in for a reaming...

[Mully]

Yeah, about 700 tons of fuel, enough to do some real damage. They'll get most of it off, but the ship is there for good. There's no way they can get that off. They'll have to cut it up and scrap it, haul the bits away on trucks.

S'funny, I heard there were tugs on the way when it first grounded, but not anything about tugs since. Suspect the tugs went to visit the other ships first and she grounded further.

[Hillbilly]

The skippers were all told to head out to sea. Two of the ships were listing heavily, but made it out. This guy didn't listen (Phillapino captain). Anyway, when he did decide to move the swell was 18 meters, with an onshore wind of 160km/hr +. You see the result.

No doubt you've seen the flooding on the news by now. Guess what - fuck all fell into the catchments for the dams, so technically there's still a drought on! I feel sorry for all those down on the Central Coast too. They've had it rough with no power and will not get it until the weekend. A chef I work with was evacuated because the rain washed his house away. They lost everything! I notice they haven't reported the deaths in NZ (The Herald) either!

Now get this - another front just the same is on it's way and will make landfall by Saturday