Let's go to Steph Compton live with a Channel News exclusive.
Steph?
River watch. The mood is tense. I have been on some serious, serious reports,but nothing like this.
I... I... Marling...Darling is rising now.
I tried to get an interview, but they said, "You can't. It's a live, quickly rising river. It will literally rip your face off."
Hey! You're making me look stupid!
Get out here! River jerk!
Great story. Compelling and rich.
That's gonna do it for all of us at Channel News.
You stay classy, San Diego.
The river really is rising at an incredible rate (in the past 2 weeks it's risen almost 3 meters). What I'm finding particularly strange is the prospect of flooding but not much rain. For those of you who want specifics, this is the government site that keeps track of the depth at Wilcannia: www.bom.gov.au/fwo/IDN60238/IDN60238.546010.plt.shtml
It's due to peak early to mid May. I'm coming home in mid May for Baz's birthday and to see Vampire Weekend so I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be able to get there. The road to Sydney theoretically shouldn't get cut off however this is being touted as a once in a hundred years flood and since the road and causeways in that direction were rebuilt about 30 years ago, we haven't had a big flood so no-one is really sure what will happen. The reason that this one will be so big is that the Paroo River is running. It running is a rare occurrence and mostly due to all the rain we had earlier this year and when the two meet, it should be very good fun!
I've been going swimming most days, the water is really warm but it's quite a work out - swim fast and stay still. The moment you stop swimming, off you go. And I've had to find another swimming spot and running route as a normally dry creek as filled up.
This is normally a dry creek bed, about 50m up from the main body of the Darling
The same spot 72 hours later
And another 72 hours later
Suffice to say that I'm a little excited - I've even got some new gumboots in readiness!!
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