Saturday, June 09, 2007

Rain rain and more rain

Pelting rain, strong winds, ferry services to Manly suspended, all beaches closed, a freighter running aground on the beach at Newcastle (see Julia's photos), flash floodings, cars floating around in carparks, flooded homes, felled trees and power lines acrossroads and railroad tracks, thousands of homes without electricity, and seven feared drowned when their cars were swept away by creeks gone wild... oh what a day has yesterday been! The Premier of NSW has declared the state of natural disaster for the regions of the Hunter valley and the Central Coast (where I live). See the Sydney Morning Herald's excellent photo gallery.
I was one the thousands of commuters who were left stranded in the city last night after our train line was cut by a landslide. I had already spent an hour on the train when we were advised that the train was not going any further. I turned back and made a second attempt to get home this morning. Trains, still inoperative, were replaced by bus services. This is what the freeway looked like this morning during a stop in between two squalls. I am glad to be home now because a new low is forecast to hit the coast at around 3 pm today...
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Pluies diluviennes, vents violents, ferries pour Manly suspendus, toutes les plages fermées, un cargo jeté à la côte sur la plage de Newcastle (voir chez Julia), des ruisseaux transformés en torrents, des maisons inondées, des arbres et des lignes électriques tombés en travers des routes, des milliers de foyers sans électricité et sept morts dont les voitures ont été emportées par les crues... quelle journée nous avons eu hier. Le premier ministre du NSW a déclaré l'état de catastrophe naturelle pour les deux régions de la Hunter Valley et de la Central Coast (où j'habite). Regardez l'excellente galerie photo du Sydney Morning Herald.
J'ai fait partie des milliers de gens qui n'ont pas pu rentrer chez eux vendredi soir quand notre ligne de train a été coupée par des rochers tombés sur la voie. Nous avions déja roulé pendant une heure quand on nous a annoncé que le train n'irait pas plus loin. Je suis rentrée en ville et ai refait une tentative ce matin. Les trains, toujours bloqués, étaient remplacés par des bus. Voilà à quoi ressemblait l'autoroute ce matin durant une éclaircie. Je suis heureuse d'être rentrée chez moi car on annonce une nouvelle dépression sur les côtes vers 15h cet après-midi.

29 comments:

Sally said...

I've been wondering how you were getting on...glad to hear you got home safe and sound. Take care.

Peter said...

Is this happening now and then or is it quite exceptional, part of what we find all over the world, hurricanes, thunderstorms... getting more frequent and violent?

At least you and your home are OK, I presume!

don said...

wow what a story hope you alright. Like the photo's from the sydney morning herald's. Specially the one of the surfer in the wave... hope your weekend is better

don said...

wow what a story hope you alright. Like the photo's from the sydney morning herald's. Specially the one of the surfer in the wave... hope your weekend is better

M.Benaut said...

Nathalie,
What a night, that was. I hope you were able to maintain contact with the family at home. It must have been close to terrifying.
I hope the returning storm this afternoon was not too severe.
Also, I hope those folk in Newcastle are seeing the last of it. Tragic.

Irina said...

Good rain in winter promisse a good harverst next year. I hope nobody was injured by the elements.

GiuCe said...

rain effect, reflects!!!

have a nice day Nathalie

Lavenderlady said...

1st...I am glad you are home safe and hopefuly dry.
2nd...great catch in the photo

GMG said...

At least you managed to get home safe, even if a bit later than foreseen!
Terrible wildfires in summer, torrential rains and deluge in winter, hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons stronger than ever; people should become conscious that something has to be done to try to decrease these climate changes...

Bergson said...

I see that the rain has to change hemisphere; -)

The photograph is sublime
reflection, color: all is good

Good courage

M. CHRISTOPHE said...

Hello Nathalie

Very nice picture for today. Nice colors with contrast. Relfect in the water on the road...very nice !!
I have read your text about Michel Onfray, believe or not believe !!!
Our world need love and humanism, with or without religion.

Pod said...

when will it end? great photo madame. you could have come and snuggled up with us!
;0)

photowannabe said...

So glad you made it home safely. A very scary time to be out in the elements.
Great shots. The one of the surfer gives me a helpless feeling. He really is flying.

calusarus said...

And is this climate usual ?

Anonymous said...

I hope your weather improves. We need the rain you got.

Surprise, surprise, surprise. It's me!
Brookville Daily Photo

Chad Oneil Myers said...

Great reflections of orange.

Nathalie H.D. said...

Peter, Calusarus, I'm not sure the Australian climate is deteriorating. As Jilly points out, this country has always been one of extremes, going from extended periods of drought to sudden floods. They say this is a 30-year record, but that doesn't mean much.

However, yes gmg, we need to do something about climate change !

Pod, thank you so much, that's very sweet !

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