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More evacuation orders have been issued for parts of New South Wales, and the Australian state prime minister said the worst could be yet to come.
As parts of northwestern Sydney experience major flooding, more evacuation orders have been issued for the state capital.
NSW RFS
The New South Wales State Emergency Service has confirmed the major flooding of the Hawkesbury River.
Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology says the southern coast of the state will get soaked and suffer some of the heaviest drops on Tuesday.
The bureau forecasts widespread declines of between 100-200mm in the region and 300mm in some parts.
The trough that has been causing havoc must collide with another system coming from the southwest.
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That means Sydney and the north central coast could take another 100mm in the next day or so, and it might rain for a season in the west.
Mark Baker / AP
New South Wales is Australia’s most populous state, but thousands are being told to leave their homes as torrential rains cause the worst flooding in decades.
As more rain predictions roll in, the State Emergency Service (SES) has told residents in several northwestern Sydney suburbs to prepare to leave.
More than 18,000 residents have already been evacuated in the north of the state and throughout Sydney.
On Monday night, the SES issued an evacuation order for low-rise properties in North Richmond and Agnes Banks due to rising water levels.
Brook Mitchell / Getty Images
Homes are threatened by flooding in Penrith after the Nepean River overflowed. Meanwhile, a house in Mondrook, New South Wales, was washed away by flooding.
It also issued a moderate flood warning along the Nepean River in Penrith with possible further increases.
And floodwaters are expected to impact the Upper Nepean River at the Menangle Bridge.
Major flooding is occurring in parts of the Colo River and waters are expected to continue rising through Tuesday, while major flooding similar to those in 1988 and 1990 is occurring along the Hawkesbury River.
Jenny Evans / Getty Images
People watch the floodwaters rise along the New Windsor Bridge into the Hawkesbury River in Windsor, there are now more evacuation warnings in New South Wales.
The Bureau of Meteorology says heavy rains are expected to continue throughout Tuesday.
New South Wales’ best forecaster says record flooding in many of the state’s cities is the worst it has seen, with more torrential rains to come.
Homes have been razed and thousands of people have been evacuated amid incessant rain that lashes the coast of New South Wales for days.
Some places have experienced nearly a meter of rain in a week.
“I’ve been a flood forecaster in the office for 20 years and this is probably the worst flood I’ve ever experienced and had to forecast,” said flood manager Justin Robinson.
“We have a flood watch that covers all the way from the Queensland border to the Victorian border, all those coastal rivers.
“My thoughts are really with the affected communities and individuals.”
Mark Baker / AP
New South Wales’ best forecaster says record flooding in many of the state’s cities is the worst it has seen, with more torrential rains to come.
Upstate communities already faced the worst flood conditions since 1929 and those along the Hawkesbury River faced the worst flooding since 1961.
Several cities across the state have been isolated for days, some without running water or electricity.
Roads were closed, hundreds of homes were flooded and more than 200 schools were closed.
And renewed rain predictions mean the worst is potentially yet to come, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.
Ryan Pierse / Getty Images
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian has told residents to prepare, as the worst could be yet to come.
“We are not going through the worst potentially and that is why we have to prepare,” he told reporters.
“We have no illusions about how difficult the next few weeks and months will be.”
Moderate flooding is occurring along the Macleay River in Kempsey and Smithtown, where it has peaked, but the bureau predicts further increases Tuesday.
Matt Blyth / Getty Images
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting widespread heavy rains on Tuesday. The trough that has been wreaking havoc must collide with another system coming from the southwest.
Major flooding is occurring at Wollombi in the Hunter Valley, while moderate flooding continues to affect Taree and Gloucester.
Inland, the levels of the Macquarie River have peaked in Bathurst, and minor flooding continues.
There has been good news, as evacuees from the western part of Jamisontown and Penrith, and the far north of Mulgoa are among those cleared to return home.
The Australian Defense Force will provide two search and rescue helicopters off the south coast of New South Wales for 24-hour operations on Tuesday.
