Wild storms lashed the Gunnedah shire on Sunday afternoon, with strong winds uprooting trees and heavy rain causing flash flooding.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The State Emergency Service received six calls for assistance – three of which involved damage to homes from falling trees.
The winds, which reached 93km/hr at Gunnedah, and 103km/hr near Mullaley, lifted the roof of another house.
The Kamilaroi Highway, near the Emerald Hill turnoff, was partially closed for almost an hour after trees fell on the road, while the Oxley Highway was closed for a short time due to fallen powerlines on Hunt’s Road.
The first storm struck at 1.30pm. SES crews were still working on jobs from that storm when another hit at 3.30pm.
One house that felt the brunt of the wild weather was in Elgin Street where a large tree was uprooted in the backyard.
The tree brought down two shade cloths, smashed a wooden table, Christmas lights and a TV antennae.
“We were in the lounge room watching TV and I heard a massive bang,” said resident Nikkita Jeffrey.
“I was pretty scared and worried about my dog.”
Gunnedah SES Local Controller, Sharon Howett, said the two severe wind storms caused some flash flooding in View Street, with reports of travelling vehicles aquaplaning.
There were also incidents of large round trampolines, that were not secured, being tossed into other people’s yards.
“They’re things that can do a lot of damage,” Ms Howett said.
“They’ve taken out aerials and chimneys.
“People need to make sure they secure them as we’re still in storm season even though it’s autumn.”
Ms Howett said that any storm over the next month has the potential to do a lot of damage, with forecasts showing warm weather.
“I think we’ll have an extended storm season,” she said.
The Namoi SES responded to 60 call-outs on Sunday afternoon, 40 of which were in Tamworth.
One Gunnedah crew was in Tamworth yesterday to help with the clean-up.
People are being reminded to keep their yards clean, be careful of fallen powerlines and not to drive or walk through floodwater.