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Thousands evacuate ‘dangerous’ Sydney floods – Science-Environment News – Report by AFR

Rapidly rising rivers flooded rain-swept Sydney on Monday, forcing thousands to flee “dangerous” flooding as the city’s largest dam spilled masses of water.

On the third day of torrential rains on the east coast, rescue workers said they had rescued more than 80 people since the previous evening.

Many people were trapped in their cars trying to cross flooded streets or unable to leave their homes surrounded by rising water.

Australia was on the sharp end of climate change, with droughts, deadly bushfires, Great Barrier Reef bleaching events and flooding becoming increasingly frequent and intense as global weather patterns change.

Higher temperatures mean the atmosphere holds more moisture and releases more rain.

About 32,000 people have been ordered to evacuate or prepare to flee through New South Wales, the Ambulance Services Department said, with the Army dispatching 100 soldiers to support operations in the storm-hit state.

“The ground is saturated, the rivers are fast-flowing, the levees are overflowing,” said Carlene York, commissioner of the State Emergency Services.

“It’s particularly dangerous out there,” she said at a press conference.

Muddy brown river water turned a large swath of land into a lake in the south-western Sydney suburb of Camden.

Roads disappeared into the water and RVs stood in knee-high water, with at least one tipping over on its side, television images showed.

Large amounts of water spurted out of the Warragamba Dam, which has been spilling excess water since Sunday.

Located on the western outskirts of Sydney, the massive dam provides most of the city’s drinking water.

Heavy rains in New South Wales could continue for at least 24 hours, forecasters said.

– “More frequently” –

The wild weather created drama off the Sydney coast as rescue workers struggled to help the 150-metre cargo ship Portland Bay with 21 crew members, which lost power in heavy seas.

The Hong Kong-registered bulk carrier was doubly anchored, a police spokesman said.

A plan to use two helicopters to lift crew members off the boat has been postponed over safety concerns, he said.

Two tugs steered the ship to bring it further in front of the coast.

Australia’s east coast has been repeatedly hit by flooding over the past 18 months.

More than 20 people died in March of this year alone as flood water sloshed on rooftops and torrents swept cars off the streets.

The current weather system over Sydney is fed by warm, humid air from near the equator, said Kimberley Reid, an atmospheric scientist at Monash University.

Rainfall across eastern Australia varies widely, making it difficult to attribute this event to climate change, she said.

“However, our research into the March 2021 Sydney floods found that similar events would likely occur over Sydney 80 per cent more frequently by the end of the 21st century.”

Australia needs to prepare for more frequent flooding events, New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet said at a news conference.

“There is no doubt that these events are becoming more frequent,” he said.

“Governments need to adapt and ensure we are responsive to the changing environment we find ourselves in.”

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