A tropical low rapidly intensified as it tracked from the east of Mackay to the east of Brisbane (Figure 1) and it continued on to cross the northern NSW coast.

Torrential rain fell at Tweed Heads and in the 24 hours to 9am 18 Feb 1956 356.9mm was recorded making it the largest daily (9am to 9am) rainfall total on record. February 1956 was the wettest month on record at the Tweed with 897.9mm recorded and there was an ECL which affected the Tweed on 7-9 February 1956.

Two men one near Casino and the other 80km north of Newcastle were swept by floodwaters off their horses and believed drowned. Floods-The Tweed River at Murwillumbah reached 5.82metres (Major Flood) and ranked 4th. Of all time.

The Wilsons River at Lismore reached 11.54metres (major flood) 11pm 18 February 1956- Robert White bridge collapsed. Sensational rise in creek levels at Nimbin. Clarence at Grafton 19 Feb1956 6.97metres (major level 5.4metres).

This event is classified as an East Coast Low.

More about East Coast Lows
Harden Up
Bureau of Meteorology website
The Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research report