An intense low-pressure system off Australia’s east coast is expected to bring more heavy rain by Monday across southern New South Wales, although several places in the state were hit by about a month’s worth of rain over the weekend.
About 100 millimeters (4 inches) of rain could fall over the next 24 hours across a wide swath of regions in New South Wales, from Newcastle to south of Sydney, a distance of more than 300 km (186 miles), the Bureau of Meteorology said.
“If you were safe in 2021, don’t assume you’ll be safe tonight. It’s a fast-moving situation and we could very well see areas affected that have never been flooded before,” NSW Emergency Services Minister Steph Cook told a televised media briefing on Sunday evening.
Earlier in the day she urged people to reconsider holiday travel as the bad weather hit at the start of the school holidays.
“This is a life-threatening emergency,” Cook said.
More than 200 millimeters (8 inches) of rain fell over many areas, with some hit by as much as 350mm, the Bureau of Meteorology said, warning of flood risks along the Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers.
Camden in south-west Sydney was under water and the Bureau of Meteorology predicted water levels in the North Richmond and Windsor areas north-west of Sydney would reach higher levels than the last three major floods since March 2021.
Heavy rain caused Sydney’s main dam to overflow early on Sunday morning, water authorities said, adding that modeling showed the spill would be comparable to a major spill in March 2021 at Warragamba Dam.
“There’s no place to hold the water in the dams. They’re starting to overflow. The rivers are flowing very fast and very dangerous. And then we have the risk of flash flooding, depending on where the rains are,” State Emergency Management Commissioner Carlene York said .
About 70 evacuation orders are in place in Sydney as authorities urge people to leave their homes before they lose power.
As tens of thousands face evacuation, frustration grew in North Richmond and Windsor in Sydney’s west after floods submerged homes there for the third time this year.
“We got over it. We are so over it. (It) is a little bit for us,” the flood-affected Windsor resident told ABC television.
At least 29 people have been rescued from floodwaters, including one who dangled from a pole for an hour as workers struggled to reach them.
The body of a man who fell from a kayak has been recovered from Sydney Harbour, police said, adding that the circumstances were under investigation but appeared to be related to the windy conditions.
Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt offered more troops and said on Monday the government had activated the satellite emergency management system to help with flood relief efforts.
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