Catastrophic wet weather has devastated Sydney and coastal areas of New South Wales, with forecasters predicting heavy, ‘intense’ rainfall and damaging winds on the way.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that a new low will bring storms and intense rainfall on Tuesday, which could reach up to 200mm, prompting concerns of flash flooding in multiple areas along the coast and in greater Sydney.
The Bureau has cautioned residents in the Central Coast, Illawarra, Blue Mountains, Shoalhaven and the Sydney Metropolitan area to plan ahead and be prepared for the worst.
‘Of particular concern are the already saturated catchments we have from the Hunter all the way down to the Hawkesbury-Nepean and even into the Shoalhaven and Wollongong areas,’ Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Dean Narramore said.
Mr Narramore revealed that flash flooding will be dependent on regions where the heaviest rainfall lands.
‘We’re looking at flooding similar to last week on some parts the river and in other areas it could be worse than what we saw last weekend, similar to what we saw in March last year,’ the senior Meteroloigst continued, referring to the 2021 eastern NSW floods.
Catastrophic wet weather has devastated Sydney and coastal areas of New South Wales , with forecasters predicting Tuesday to be a crisis point as a new low hits the east. Pictured: Petersham in Sydney’s inner-west
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that a new low will bring storms and intense rainfall that’s slated to total up to 200mm Pictured: Flooding at Petersham in Sydney’s inner-west
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that a new low will bring storms and intense rainfall on Tuesday, which could reach up to 200mm, prompting concerns of flash flooding in multiple areas along the coast and in greater Sydney
Thousands of residents have already been forced to evacuate from the dangerous weather, with parts of Camden in Sydney’s south-west told to get out by 11.59pm or risk being cut off.
Local flooding submerged streets across Sydney’s inner-west including Potts Point, Surry Hills, Newtown and Petersham. There were roads in Camden and Bankstown resembling rivers.
There was also shocking footage showing multiple cars struggling to make it flooded streets in Milperra.
A taxi was seen submerged in the deluge with its hazard lights on as other vehicles appeared stuck in the brown water.
About 83mm of rain fell at Marrickville in the 2 hours to 10.45pm on Monday, 81mm hit Kentlyn in the 2 hours to 10pm and 86mm was recorded at Lucas Heights in the 2 hours to 9.30pm.
The SES has warned strong winds and heavy rain will continue into Tuesday morning.
‘Heavy rain may cause flash flooding, and river heights could rise rapidly over and above what has been experienced in the past few days,’ it said.
‘This could happen during the night.
‘Strong winds are expected which could cause trees and powerlines to fall. Landslides are also possible, which could block roads.
‘If you live on or near a river, creek or stream, or an area at risk, particularly if it’s already in flood, stay up to date and be ready to take action.’
In Hurstville, shocking footage showed the rooftop of an Aldi store collapsing due to the intense rain.
Local flooding submerged streets across Sydney’s inner-west including Potts Point, Surry Hills, Newtown and Petersham. Pictured: A street in Newtown
Many suburbs across Syndey were hammered by flooding, water is seen bubbling up from the ground in Potts Point
The SES has warned strong winds and heavy rain will continue into Tuesday morning (Pictured: A deluge sweeps through a residence in Rhodes)
A street in Syndey’s Newtown was covered in water on Monday night
The flooding also turned several roads in Camden and Bankstown into rivers.
The Monday night deluge was expected to worsen into Tuesday, with an east coast low forecast to dump up to 150mm of rain on Sydney, accompanied by damaging of winds.
On Monday evening, the SES issued evacuations orders for parts of Camden in Sydney’s south-west by 9pm.
A renewed alert warned residents within parts of Camden that they have until 11.59pm on Monday or risk getting cut off once flood waters reach 10.3 metres at Camden Weir.
Residents in the south coast towns of Sussex Inlet and St Georges Basin were also told to prepare to evacuate.
Park Street, Petersham is seen under water on Tuesday night after a torrential down pour hit Sydney
Residents across Sydney’s inner-west reported local flooding on Monday night, with shocking pictures showing streets in Camden and Bankstown under water. Pictured: A flooded street in Milperra
Roads in Bankstown resembled rivers after floods swept through Sydney’s south
Elizabeth Drive, Liverpool is completely flooded as vehicles are left at a stand still
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned residents in Sydney and northern NSW to prepare for flash flooding from Sunday until Tuesday as an east coast low moves in. From left to right, the three main weather models forecasters use show Sydney and the south coast are expected to be battered by more than 100mm of rain
The SES have warned that roads in Sussex Inlet may become inaccessible due to the hazardous weather.
In greater Sydney, the wet weather has created landslides and shifting earth.
Residents in Sydney and the Blue Mountains have been warned over the risk of deadly landslides, many of which have already caused mud, trees and vegetation to fall onto roads.
A number of the landslides were reported at Emu Heights and Katoomba in the Blue Mountains.
Footage released by Fire and Rescue shows a roadway cut off due to a landslide.
Warnings have been raised over the risk of landslides in Sydney and the Blue Mountains
A number of the landslides were reported at Emu Heights and Katoomba in the Blue Mountains
In Northern NSW, flooding has continued to devastate suburbs near the coastline.
A recent viral video shared to Reddit sees raging floodwaters near the town of Murwillumbah carve up the landscape, carrying gum trees, boulders and other debris.
The floods have reportedly destroyed homes and local infrastructure in the area.
Harsh conditions are predicted to ease on Wednesday – when the sun may finally return.
Intense flooding continued to inundate Coraki, 30km south of Lismore, on Monday.
Meanwhile, the NSW Premier has apologised to flood-devastated communities.
Dominic Perrottet said sorry to thousands of people in the Northern Rivers district, whose homes and businesses were destroyed when towns like Lismore and Ballina were inundated by floodwaters last week.
Floodwater surrounded a small farm paddock with a single tractor in Coraki on Monday as locals prepare for more flash flooding
Aerial photos show homes submerged in floodwater in Coraki on Monday as the BoM warns more flashing flooding is on the way
Roads in Coraki remained submerged on Monday as local prepare for more heavy rain to fall
Large parts of the northern NSW town Coraki remained inundated on Monday with more rain forecast in coming days
Many had to be rescued by fellow citizens and have since struggled to access basics such as food, water, power, fuel, phones, ATMs, the internet and medical supplies.
‘I’m very sorry … but we’re doing everything that we can,’ Mr Perrottet told the Nine Network from Lismore.
‘Some of those areas will look back at this and say it could have been done better but … we’re doing absolutely everything we can to provide care and support for those who need it to get those essential supplies in,’ he said.
The emergency response would be reviewed, he added.
Floods have claimed six lives in NSW, including four in Lismore.
The Australian Defence Force is helping with the mammoth clean-up with 512 personnel on the ground in NSW.
Some 5000 personnel will be put on task or made available in NSW and Queensland over the course of this week, as 2010 are on the ground in both states, the ADF said.
The Australian Defence Force is helping with the mammoth clean-up with 512 personnel on the ground in NSW
A soldier helps with the clean-up effort in Lismore as residents prepare for more flash flooding
‘We’re getting supplies in. We’re getting food in,’ Mr Perrottet said.
Around 2,000 of the 3,500 homes assessed so far in the Northern Rivers are no longer habitable, increasing the need for short-term and medium-to-long-term accommodation.
Telstra on Monday said it had restored about 80 per cent of mobile coverage for communities in northern NSW and 75 per cent of landline connections.
But some areas remained inaccessible due to continued flooding, road damage or a lack of electricity that is hampering the work of around 1,000 technicians.
Around 2,000 of the 3,500 homes assessed so far in the Northern Rivers are no longer habitable, increasing the need for short-term and medium-to-long-term accommodation
The northern NSW communities of Kingscliff, Main Arm, Mullumbimby, Ocean Shores, Tucabia, Uki and Wooli are among those still having issues with communications.
The State Emergency Service had another 550 calls for help overnight and performed nine flood rescues.
SES Deputy Commissioner Daniel Austin says volunteers are waiting with ‘bated breath’ to see what Monday brings.
‘We’re certainly on high alert from the Mid-North Coast down into the Shoalhaven,’ he told the Nine Network.
‘We are watching exceptionally closely a number of catchments … around the Hawkesbury and Central Coast and places.
‘The water hasn’t retreated yet. We’re now going to see more flooding on top of what we’ve already seen.’
An Australian Defence Force soldier helps clean flood debris from a property in Lismore
Renewed flooding is likely in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley and major flooding continues in the Upper Nepean, Nepean, Hawkesbury and Colo Rivers, the SES said on Monday.
Rainfall on Tuesday could push the Nepean River at Penrith over six metres causing minor floods.
Major flooding is also taking place at North Richmond and is likely to happen at Putty Road as the Colo River is expected to exceed 10.7 metres on Monday night and continue to swell to up to 11.5 metres on Tuesday.
Rain is causing significant travel delays with cancellations expected on most Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink Intercity and Regional train services and drivers are being urged to stay off the roads unless it’s absolutely necessary.
