Residents on the outskirts of Sydney are at risk of severe flooding due to intense storms moving south at a slow pace.
On April 5, Sydney, Port Macquarie, and Taree experienced over a month’s worth of rainfall, causing train delays, power outages, and evacuation alerts.
By the morning of April 6, the New South Wales State Emergency Service had conducted 44 flood rescues and received over 4000 calls in the past 24 hours.
The Cooks River overflowed at Earlwood on April 6, leading to road closures and traffic disruptions.
Moderate flooding also occurred in North Richmond and Windsor in the northwest of Sydney.
Helen Reid from the Bureau of Meteorology mentioned that many areas received over 100mm of rain within 24 hours.
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“Due to the heavy rainfall, many rivers have risen, resulting in minor flood warnings being issued overnight,” stated Reid on April 6.
“Darkes Forest received the highest rainfall of 228mm, and it is still raining,” she added.
The focus of the rain is predicted to be in northeastern and southeastern NSW, with 33 flood warnings still in effect across the state.
However, there is hope for a respite for some Sydney residents.
“We anticipate a decrease in rainfall for Sydney today,” Reid mentioned.
“Many areas have already experienced the heaviest rainfall, so we expect a calmer day in Sydney as we assess the impact of the rain,” she continued.
The severe weather threat was projected to move south of the capital by April 6 morning, although isolated severe thunderstorms could develop later in the afternoon.
There is a possibility of up to 150mm of rain within a six-hour period from the Blue Mountains to Narooma.
SES issued evacuation orders for various locations, including the Hawkesbury Nepean area and low-lying parts of Chipping Norton in western Sydney.
Several rivers, such as the Hawkesbury, Nepean, Georges, Lower Hunter, Myall, Macquarie, and Woronora, are under flood watch.
“With the forecasted rainfall, there could be further rises in river levels and the potential for moderate to major flooding along the Hawkesbury and Nepean Rivers starting Saturday morning,” warned the Bureau of Meteorology on April 5 evening.
Liverpool and Milperra in southern Sydney may experience moderate flooding from the Georges River on April 6 morning.
Beachgoers and surfers were advised to avoid surf-exposed areas due to dangerous conditions, especially at east-facing beaches.
Many community sports teams had to delay their winter seasons due to flooded grounds from Wollondilly to the Northern Beaches being closed for the weekend.
Nepean and Hawkesbury communities downstream of Warragamba Dam are not expected to see relief soon.
The reservoir, which holds most of Sydney’s water supply, is projected to spill over starting April 8.
Premier Chris Minns urged residents to stay vigilant and informed about warnings in their local areas.
“It’s a volatile situation, and we need to stay updated with the latest information…everyone needs to be alert,” he emphasized on April 5.
