BREAKING: Two tornadoes have touched down in the NSW Riverina region, wreaking havoc and capturing dramatic footage on social media. The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed that the first tornado struck north-west of Young, while the second hit Caragabal, located between West Wyalong and Grenfell, on September 10.
The severe storms, which rolled through the area, were accompanied by intense rainfall, with 33.2 mm recorded at Wagga Wagga Airport—the wettest day since February. Close-up footage from the Caragabal tornado shows it tearing apart trees and demolishing a shed as it swept through paddocks, highlighting the ferocity of the storm.
Weather experts are on alert as meteorologist Joel Pippard noted that the tornado near Tubbul was visible on weather radar, forming a hook shape indicative of a tornadic supercell. “When the line of storms caught up to the supercell, it disrupted its structure and created rotation,” Pippard explained.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe thunderstorm warning, upgraded to a tornado alert around 3:50 PM, before being scaled back shortly after 4:30 PM. Despite this, heavy rain and storms continued into the evening, causing significant disruptions across the region.
The storm system, associated with a low-pressure system that brought “copious atmospheric moisture,” has led to widespread flooding. In addition to Wagga Wagga, Kapooka reported 61 mm in the past 24 hours—its wettest period since January 2024. Other areas such as West Wyalong received 38.4 mm, while Narrandera saw 37.2 mm.
Emergency services have been overwhelmed, with the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) receiving 854 calls for assistance within 24 hours, primarily from the Sydney region. SES volunteers responded to numerous incidents, indicating a significant impact on local communities.
As storms continue to affect the area, residents are urged to stay indoors and remain vigilant. The situation is developing, and authorities are closely monitoring weather patterns for further updates. Stay tuned for more urgent news as this story unfolds.
