Why has so much rain fallen, and why didn’t anyone see it coming?
New data from Weatherzone reports that the “unprecedented” May deluge has brought more than half a metre – or 500mm – of rain in just three days.
Mount Seaview has received 614.2mm in 72 hours to 9am on Thursday, and more than 500mm has been recorded in the rain gauges at Taree Airport, Mount Barrington, Mooral Creek and Comboyne Public School.
Weatherzone’s Ben Domensino said the main factor behind the deluge has been a “near-stationary low pressure trough interacting with a stagnant pool of cold upper-level air and a relentless stream of moisture-laden winds”.
“The landscape across eastern NSW was already wet before this week’s rain arrived, which exacerbated the extent and severity of flooding,” he said.
