Several flood evacuation orders have been issued in NSW as torrential rains continue and the risk of major flooding has developed in many areas.
Residents of parts of Chipping Norton and Camden, south-west of Sydney, were ordered to leave on Thursday afternoon due to rising waters.
The evacuation order applies to Exeter Street West of John Street, Milford Road Camden West and Peter Avenue between Onslow Avenue and Belgrade Avenue.
Other roads included in the warning include Cowder Road, Sheathers Lane, Kirkham Lane, Menangal Road near Race Course Road and Poplar Caravan Park between Barsden Street and Murray St.
The alert came after people in parts of Voronora and Bonnet Bay, south of the city, were asked to evacuate in the morning.
There are also warnings of possible evacuations for Stuarts Point on the mid-north coast and Stonequarry Creek, Picton and Camden in southwest Sydney.
The Nepean River, Menangal and Wallacea are also expected to be affected in the coming days.
Flood levels in Menangal could be higher than the record set in April 1988, said Ailsa Schofield, senior hydrologist at the Bureau of Meteorology.
He said the ’88 flood level was higher than the 2021 and 2022 levels.
“The Greater Sydney, Upper Hunter, Illawarra and South Coast areas are at a significant risk of continued flash flooding from today and into the weekend,” Ms Scofield said.
‘So I’m really urging residents to stay up to date with local weather and warning information and stay safe.’
Water is seeping into the Warragamba dam, which was already at capacity before the rains started.
Daniel Austin, Acting Commissioner of the State Emergency Service, said: “This is a very dynamic situation.
A severe weather warning has been issued for most parts of the NSW coast. At least 100 mm of rain expected in the purple areas
Sydneysiders have been urged to stay off the streets. Image is of a flash flood at Pittwater Road on North Beaches on Thursday morning
‘These events are moving exceptionally fast as was seen in Ilavra this morning … with significant rain, significant flash flooding in the span of about three-quarters of an hour, and many of the properties affected by those flash events. ‘
SES has responded to nearly 700 requests for assistance and rescued 25 people, most of them from flash floods.
The state has been hit by repeated flooding in recent months, with two deluges occurring within weeks in the Northern Rivers region and Sydney getting wet regularly.
Liverpool Mayor Ned Manoon told Sydney Radio 2GB on Thursday that there was a sense of déj vu in the area after floods last month.
In Coalcliffe, Wollongong, about 60km southwest of Sydney, torrential rains have triggered a landslide on Seacliffe Bridge (pictured)
‘We know what’s going to happen, we hope it won’t be worse than last time,’ Mr Mannoun said.
Officials issued severe weather warnings on Thursday for parts of southern and central NSW, metropolitan Sydney, Illawarra, the south coast, the central and southern Tablelands and Hunter.
Several schools have closed in Sydney’s South, Illawarra and South Coast, including Dapto High School, Kanahuka High School, Kurnell Public School, Terrara Public School and Voronora River Public School.
Rain is expected to subside on Friday but there will be a risk of flooding throughout the week.