Storm cell lashes coast – December 5

Residents will have to endure more threats of thunderstorms across the Mid-North Coast over the next few days.

Weatherzone meteorologist Rob Sharpe said showers and thunderstorms would bring fairly unstable weather conditions.

This follows a dramatic storm cell that lashed the Mid-North Coast on December 5.

“Inland areas, particularly, will see more thunderstorm activity on December 6 although it remains uncertain if these will reach the coast.

“However, there will certainly be showers and rainfall across the afternoon and evening throughout the Mid-North Coast.

“Another burst of southerlies will kick in overnight on Tuesday and into Wednesday (December 7) which will actually bring some extra stability. This will reduce the thunderstorm risks,” he said.

“The remainder of the week doesn’t look as exciting weather-wise as the start of the week.

“Thursday should see inland areas affected by thunderstorms, with some possibly reaching the coastline.

“Friday and into the weekend will be calmer conditions and mostly sunny weather patterns.”

At the height of the storm cell on December 5, 15 millimetres of rain fell in just 10 minutes.

Mr Sharp said the deluge was recorded at 6.20pm and would have caused flash flooding in some areas

In the 24 hours since 9am on Monday, 30mm of rainfall was recorded.

“The coast was lashed by two storms, the first kicked in at around 5.30pm and, at its peak, wind gusts were recorded at the Port Macquarie airport at 74 kilometres per hour,” he said.

“A second storm – that was a bit weaker – came through around 10.30pm and also featured wind gusts but only to about 43km/h.”

Meanwhile a man is confirmed deceased after two people were struck by lightning on the top of Mt Warning, near Murwillumbah, in the early hours of December 6..

Emergency services were alerted about 4.50am, that at least two people had been injured by lightning.

It’s believed a man and woman camped on the summit overnight; rescuers on the summit have confirmed the man has died and a woman is being treated for neck and head injuries The ages and nationality of the couple is yet to be confirmed.

The rescue operation is being co-ordinated by police from Tweed/Byron Local Area Command and will involve volunteers from the Volunteer Rescue Association and State Emergency Service, as well as NSW Ambulance Paramedics.

Essential Energy power outages update (December 6, 8.30am):

Crews will continue to respond and make repairs where possible to affected regions across the Mid North Coast.

King Creek –  93 customers affected. Power lines are down in that area on Burrawan Forest Drive.

Rollands Plains – 33 customers without power and vegetation in the power lines along Rollands Plains Road. Crews will arrive shortly to remove that vegetation.

Comboyne – 38 customers without supply. There is a fault on Amos Road and crews are on-site to rectify that issue.

Major Innes – 24 customers without supply and staff are patrolling the line.

Individual customers have also notified Essential Energy of specific supply issues.

CLICK HERE for the latest on power interruptions.