The roof came off this Gazebo in the Rutland Estate after wild weather on Monday night. The easterly winds caused minor damage over the shire. Southern New South Wales has been battered by wild weather this week, and the Harden Shire hasn’t been spared. Structures have been damaged and trees have been brought down due to high easterly winds which swept the Shire on Monday. Harden recorded over 25 mm of rain from 9:00am Monday to 9:00am Tuesday. The rain combined with high winds to make it a destructive force across the region.

In Dubbo, a mini tornado damaged property, and flash flooding has caused the evacuation of homes in Sussex Inlet and around St George’s Basin on the South Coast. Over 360 mm of rain was recorded there over 30 hours on Monday and Tuesday. According to Andrew Kennett of Kennett’s Rural, the rainfall has been welcome for local farmers. “It puts us in a good position,” said Andrew. “But October will decide the yields. The rain will help the early Canola crop, but the wheat will still need rains in October. There is still talk of El Nino.” El Nino brings drought-like conditions to the country as a result of warming Pacific Ocean currents. Some climatologists are predicting that the coming El Nino will rival those of 1982 and 1997 that brought harsh drought conditions to the country. A frosty and sunny weekend is predicted for this week.