Eastern Australia areas under flood warnings amid La Nina event

Australia’s weather forecaster warned on Saturday of potential heavy flooding in parts of New South Wales, as much of the country braces for unusually heavy rains in coming months due to a third straight La Nina weather event.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a warning for flooding in parts of western New South Wales, Australia’s most populous state, saying “major flooding” inundation was possible at the towns of Gunnedah and Wee Waa late on Saturday.
Australia has been hard-hit by the impacts of climate change in recent years, enduring floods, searing temperatures, changing fire and rainfall trends, rising sea levels and ocean acidification.
The state’s emergency services commissioner, Carlene York, told ABC television on Saturday that 12 flood rescues were made overnight.
The weather bureau said on Tuesday much of Australia would face unusually heavy downpours in coming months, confirming that a La Nina weather event was under way for the third year in a row, likely lasting into 2023.