The unprecedented deluge hammering down on millions across New South Wales is only expected to get worse over the coming days, with flood warnings issued for 11 rivers and thousands forced to flee their homes.
After areas in northern NSW and southern Queensland were devastated by floods and heavy rainfall, Greater Sydney is expected to cop the brunt of the wet weather heading into Wednesday and Thursday.
Those in Sydney’s north-west have been warned of potential flooding from the Hawkesbury and Nepean rivers, with many sandbagging their homes in preparation.
Severe weather warnings for damaging winds and heavy rainfall in Sydney, the South Coast and parts of the Hunter coast were issued on Tuesday afternoon as 200mm of rain was predicted to fall over six hours.
Houses are seen on the banks of an overflowing Clarence River in Grafton, some 130 kms from the New South Wales town of Lismore on March 1
Those in Sydney’s north-west have been warned of potential flooding from the Hawkesbury and Nepean rivers, with many sandbagging their homes in preparation
Commuters have been warned to stay home if they can on Tuesday as heavy rain is expected to hit Sydney (pictured: A woman walking through Sydney)
Thunderstorms with damaging winds and heavy to torrential rain may also lead to flash flooding along the length of the coast from the Hunter down to Bega on the south coast, combined with severe warnings of abnormally high tides and damaging surf.
Premier Dominic Perrottet asked residents to ‘show caution’ when making their way into the city on Wednesday.
‘Obviously we want people to come back to the Sydney CBD but based on the advice from the Bureau (of Meteorology) it’s going to be a difficult week in our city as we see those heavy rains come from the north.
‘Ultimately right now we say to people right across our city and our state, look after yourself, follow the advice and stay safe.’
The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts as much as 120mm of rain, which could lead to flash flooding, may fall across these areas over a six hour period early on Wednesday morning.
A total of 200mm of rainfall is possible in Sydney on Wednesday alone, followed by a further 20 to 45mm on Thursday.
Damaging winds of up to 90km/h are also forecast for the NSW coast from Wednesday while damaging surf conditions and abnormally high tides are also on the horizon for areas south of Forster.
The Warragamba Dam is likely to spill over on Wednesday, having reached 99 per cent capacity on Tuesday.
As of Tuesday night 350,000 NSW residents had been given evacuation orders or warnings, with 1,000 having been rescued.
The deluge hammering down on thousands of residents around New South Wales is only expected to get worse for Sydneysiders over the coming days (pictured floods in Cabarita, northern NSW)
Northern NSW has been battered by heavy rainfall, with Sydney, the Hunter and South Coast now expected to cop the brunt (pictured, volunteers handing out supplies in Fingal on Tuesday)
Damaging winds of up to 90km/h are also forecast for the NSW coast from Wednesday (pictured homes submerged in water in Ballina on Tuesdau)
The Ballina Hospital was forced to evacuate its staff and patients to a nearby high school as flood waters rapidly rose higher.
Fifty-five patients from the hospital were moved to the Xavier Catholic College where a makeshift emergency department is being set up for any others needing urgent care.
All patients have been transported with the help of NSW Ambulance and SES crews.
‘The evacuation is taking place on the advice of the local Police Commander and out of an abundance of caution to protect the health and safety of patients and staff,’ Northern NSW Local Health District said.
An almost completely submerged lamp post is seen in Grafton in NSW on Tuesday (pictured)
Ballina Hospital was forced to evacuate its staff and patients to a nearby high school as flood waters rapidly rose higher
Those in low-lying areas in Ballina and Lennox Head were earlier on Tuesday evening told to leave amid worsening weather conditions.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet described the downpour as a ‘one in 1,000-year’ event.
‘The worst could be yet to come… the flood rivers remain a real risk to people’s lives and we will be doing everything we can to get every person, every family, every business back on their feet as quickly as possible,’ Mr Perrottet said.
‘I also want to say as well, we know that at the moment this is focused on the north. But very quickly, as we’re seeing in metropolitan Sydney now, it will move to the south.’
Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned millions across the length of NSW’s east coast that they needed to prepare.
‘This rather significant weather system, we will continue to see moving down the east coast of Australia. We will see it come into the Central Coast and Sydney,’ he said.
‘We are already experiencing elements of that right now, and particularly over the next 24 hours, we will then see that extend further into the South Coast of New South Wales. And we need to be continuing to be preparing ourselves for the impacts in those regions.’
South-east Queensland is set to be smashed by yet more storms, bringing days of damaging large hail and even more heavy rainfall, with flood warnings for creeks and streams between now and the weekend.
The arrival of the system in Sydney comes just a week after the city was smashed by a severe downpour that turned streets into rivers in the inner-west and saw the Parramatta River break its banks.
Sydney and the NSW coast will now bear the brunt of the latest 48-hour weatherbomb explosion (pictured)
More than 300,000 residents across NSW have been given evacuation order or warnings (pictured in Grafton)
The city has a 80 to 95 per cent chance of rain everyday over the next week until at least Tuesday.
It comes as flooded Lismore reports its first death of the crisis – with an 80-year-old woman found dead inside her home about 10.20am.
Earlier on Tuesday harrowing footage showed residents and horses and trapped on a bridge at Woodburn, south of Lismore, after being stranded overnight.
All were later rescued and brought to safety.
South-east Queensland is set to be smashed by yet more storms, bringing days of damaging large hail and even more heavy rainfall
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet earlier described the downpour as a ‘one in 1000-year’ event and warned Sydney was next in line to cop the brunt of the weather (pictured in Lismore)
A convoy of at least 20 cars and several horses are trapped on a bridge at Woodburn near Lismore in northern NSW
