Sydney’s Warragamba Dam is overflowing after reaching capacity due to heavy downpours across the state.
WaterNSW has confirmed that the dam started spilling at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday following extensive rain in Sydney catchments.
The water reservoir last spilled on April 6 after heavy rain, causing significant damage to homes near the catchment area.
The SES has issued minor flood warnings for the Hawkesbury River at North Richmond and the Colo River, but no major impact on properties is expected in the area.
“There may be some low-lying flooding on roads, but we do not anticipate significant impacts like the last spill,” said an SES spokeswoman to AAP.
In the past 24 hours until 9 a.m. on Sunday, Sydney has seen rainfall totals exceeding 30mm at Campbelltown (35.4mm) and Observatory Hill (31.2mm).
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Heavy rain and runoff led to a 10-meter wide sinkhole opening up in a residential street at Dover Heights in Sydney’s east on Saturday night.
“We were on the scene until 1 o’clock this morning, using sandbags and a retaining wall to divert water away from properties,” said NSW SES Waverley-Woollahra Deputy Unit Commander Anthia Kollaras.
“The hole was quite large, and part of the road had washed away.”
This was one of 273 incidents that SES volunteers responded to across the state in the 24 hours until 8 a.m. on Sunday.
The South Coast and Illawarra regions have been most affected by the wet weather, with 117.6mm of rain falling at Moruya Airport in the 24-hour period until 9 a.m..
A severe weather warning remains in effect for heavy rainfall in parts of the Illawarra, South Coast, Southern Tablelands, and Snowy Mountains forecast districts.
The Bureau of Meteorology predicts that some communities could receive 90mm to 110mm of rain over a 24-hour period, potentially reaching up to 140mm over the ranges.
Nowra, Batemans Bay, Moruya Heads, Ulladulla, Narooma, and Araluen are all at risk.
The heavy rainfall could lead to flash flooding in the warning area on Sunday, but conditions are expected to improve in the evening.
