November 2000 - Major Peel and Namoi Valley Flood
Major flooding occurred in the North-West region in November 2000. Heavy rains the result of trough extending across much of inland Australia and a high pressure cell east of the NSW coast which directed moist easterly and north-easterly winds over the dividing range and into the trough. The system remained stationary over the centre of the continent for almost a fortnight, with more than 65 rainfall-recording stations in the Noth-West region breaking their November rainfall records. Murrundi received 333mm to 22nd November (previous record 164.7mm set in 1961), Tambar Springs 321mm (251mm set in 1950), Collarenabri 236mm (149.4mm, 1985).
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Combined Satellite/MSL at 15:00:  Source: Northern Daily Leader and BOMEvident is the intense area of moisture which dumped significant falls in the South East of the Namoi/Peel Catchment on the evening of November 19. |
Localised flooding from a heavy downpour: 
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Minor to Moderate flooding was experienced in several centres in the week prior to the 19th. At Boggabri localised flooding was experienced on the 15th as Cox 's Creek cut the northern part of town in low lying areas. Wee Waa was cut off by road late in the week, and flooding closed Calala Lane and Jewry Street in Tamworth on the morning of the 19th when the Peel peaked during the morning.
Minor flooding Jewry St Bridge, Tamworth on the morning November 19, 2000
Intense rainfall on the afternoon and evening of November 19 resulted in a rapid deterioration in the flooding situation. The upper Peel River Valley received ~115mm between 8pm and 6am, resulting in the worst flooding ever experienced in the villages of Nundle and Woolamin. The Peel became a 250m wide torrent destroying 20 homes and six bridges, raising water levels in Chaffey Dam on the Peel between Nundle and Tamworth 2.7m above the spillway (126% of capacity). The Bowling Alley Point bridge was later found floating in the dam, kilometres downstream from where it once stood.
The floodwaters soon moved downstream and divided Tamworth for several hours on the 20th. Initial forecasts suggested that the river would peak at 7.2m, above the record peak of 7.16m of 1955. The river eventually peaked at 6.22m at around 5pm, significantly above the levels of 1998 (5.5m) but below the peak of 6.63m of January/February 1984. Town levees protected most of the city, however the industrial area of Taminda was inundated, with a significant sandbagging effort put in action to protect plant and equipment.
Bridge Street, Tamworth: 20th November 2000
Downstream from Peel River Bridge - Bridge St, Tamworth: 20th November 2000
Jewry St Bridge, Tamworth: Afternoon 20th November 2000
Peel Valley from Tamworth Lookout: 20th November 2000
Flooded Paddock Downstream from Tamworth:20th November 2000
The flows progressed downstream from the Peel and into the Namoi, combining with flows from the Mooki River to produce major flooding at Gunnedah, peaking at 8.86 metres at around midnight on the 21st. Levels remained at high levels in the town for over 48 hours. Inundating around 40 homes and affecting 30 business as floodwaters covered Conadilly (West), Maitland, Bloomfield, Rosemary, Chandos, Marquis, Abbott and Henry Streets.
As the floodwater moved out onto the plains the pace of the waters movement downstream slowed. The area covered in water expanded out over the thousands of hectares of crop land, much of it near harvest. Crop damage has been estimated at between $500 and $600 million dollars, with wheat crops being the most severely affected.
The peak reached Narrabri at around 1.30pm on the 23rd November reaching 7.79 m, 60 cm below the predicted level. Despite this the flooding cut the town into 12 sections and inundated dozens of businesses in the central business district. Extensive sandbagging around the town saved many businesses, but about 40 were flooded with more than 10cm of water covering shop floors. The worst affected areas in the town were Wee Waa Rd, Frazier St, and Puma Rd (Newell Highway).
The floodwaters moved next to Wee Waa peaking at 7.45 metres. The town is enclosed by a levee bank and remained isolated for more than a week. Around 300 outlying property owners were also isolated and had to rely on a fleet of four helicopters and SES boats for food and essential supplies.
Stream Discharges - Megalitres/Day: Select Sites North-West NSW
Source: DLWC
The chart shows the progression of the flood peak down the valley and into the Barwon.
Some great photo's of the flooding in the area can be found at http://www3.turboweb.net.au/~pcherry/flood/flood.htm.