Byron writers festival cancelled and warnings for Sydney’s City2Surf due to east coast rain dump

<p>Major flood warning remains in place along Namoi River as parts of coastline receive almost double August monthly rainfall in eight days</p><ul><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>Heavy rainfall across Australia’s eastern states has prompted the cancellation of the Byron writers festival and a warning for participants in Sunday’s City2Surf race in Sydney to take care, after parts of the east coast received nearly double the typical August monthly rainfall in eight days.</p><p>The Byron festival organisers said they were “devastated” to announce the cancellation of the annual event due to the condition of the festival site and ongoing rain, and that it was a “deeply regrettable but necessary decision”.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/aug/09/byron-writers-festival-cancelled-east-coast-weather-rainfall-forecast-sydney-nsw-queensland">Continue reading...</a>