Dam good news

Australia’s incredible Summer of extremes continues unabated. In recent days the Sydney basin has experienced its heaviest two-day rain spell since 1992 and soggiest four-day stint since 1990. Almost 400 millimetres of rain has fallen across the city since Friday, with more forecast later this week.

The image below was taken at an intersection near home on Saturday. I’ve lived in the area for almost 25 years. In all that time I can’t recall this particular location flooding so dramatically. The apartment has also sprang new leak. Annoyingly, it’s occurred in a location we successfully repaired 13 years ago.

However, the weekend’s extreme weather does have a silver lining. Sydney's dams have been filling rapidly after years of relentless decline. Warragamba Dam, the largest catchment area, is sitting at 62% capacity, up from 42% a week ago. Once the last of the run off is captured, Sydney's overall dam levels may ultimately exceed 80%. It’s incredible to think that a four-day deluge delivered the equivalent of Sydney’s annual water consumption.

The heavy rains have also brought renewed joy for firefighters. The giant Gospers Mountain fire - which has burnt more than 500,000 hectares this Summer - is among 30 fires formally declared extinguished.

UPDATE: 10 April

Sydney's dam level have continued to hover above 80% since February's drought-busting rainfall.  All water restrictions were finally lifted across the entire city on 1 March.