Storm strikes Inverell and Tingha - The Inverell Times

Emergency services were kept busy on Wednesday evening after predicted intense electrical storm systems made their way over much of northern and central NSW.

Inverell SES deputy unit controller Dale Hersee said crews were called to a number of incidents of residential and property damage surrounding Inverell, with areas near Tingha particularly affected.

Controller Hersee said overall storm damage to the area was moderate with no injuries reported. He said the event was difficult to categorise against meteorological observations, but noted that clean-up operations were continuing around the local area yesterday.

He said SES and Inverell Shire Council crews responded to a number of incidents of fallen trees in the local government area yesterday, while Inverell Fire and Rescue station officer Mark Savage said crews were alerted to a potential grass fire in the area at around 9pm on Wednesday night. He said it was possible the fire could have been the result of a lightning strike, but said it was more likely an unrelated incident. Power was cut to almost 3000 homes and businesses in town.

“Our crews safely restored power to 888 at 9.12pm, a further 1402 at 9.53pm and the remainder at 10.22pm,” Essential Energy’s regional general manager, Ben Williams, said.

Inverell police reported some local areas were without power after electrical lines went down near Rugby Park, with parts of Ross Hill and south Inverell affected.

In other parts of the state, meteorologists recorded a high number of lightning strikes, while periods of high winds downed trees and electrical lines leaving sections of the community without power for a number of hours. Ahead, weather reports suggest local areas could experience isolated showers on Monday, with chances of more rain continuing into next week. 

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