THE New South Wales State Emergency Service is urging people to prepare for spring storms before it’s too late.
Launched last week, the SES’ storm season preparedness push comes as weather patterns become increasingly erratic and unpredictable.
“Incident numbers show how quickly storms can affect communities across NSW, and what we are seeing is a pattern of more complex and changing weather,” said NSW SES Commissioner Mike Wassing.
“Even in years where drier conditions may be expected, we can see severe storms with damaging and destructive winds, large hail, intense rainfall and localised flooding.
“That’s why preparation is critical, because the risks can change quickly.”
Last storm season the SES responded to more than 23,000 callouts including 7000 fallen trees and 6500 leaking roofs.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s acting manager of hazard preparedness and response Max Gonzalez said things could be worse this spring and summer.
“The Bureau’s long-range forecast shows a dry signal, meaning a tendency for below-average rainfall at the start of spring, particularly west of the Great Dividing Range,” he said.
“For the longer-term picture moving into summer, we will need to monitor the short-range signals and update how climate influences may impact rainfall, fire weather and thunderstorm outbreaks.”
A statement from the SES said there was a range of things people could do to get ready for storm season.
They include securing loose items around your home and yard, cleaning gutters, downpipes and drains, cutting back trees and overhanging branches, not parking vehicles near trees and in flood-prone areas, preparing a home emergency plan and emergency kit, and downloading the Hazards Near Me NSW app and setting watch zones.