Sydney and large swathes of NSW's coast have endured another day of downpours.
Evacuation orders have been issued, and the Harbour City passed its annual average rainfall total less than four months into the year.
Look back on how the day unfolded.
Key events
Live updates
By David Hirst
Where to find emergency assistance and information
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For emergency assistance, contact NSW SES on 132 500.
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If your life is at risk, call triple-0 (000) immediately.
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For the latest weather updates visit the Bureau of Meteorology in NSW here
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Roads and bridges may be impacted by flash flooding.
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If you're not sure what to do when there's a flood, here's the best way to plan
By Paige Cockburn
Closing the blog
That's where I'm going to leave things this evening, thankyou for following along.
To all those who have have had to evacuate or are preparing to do so, stay safe tonight and do not drive through floodwaters.
Please head over to our main news story for all further updates through the night.
By Paige Cockburn
Here's the latest information:
- Evacuation orders remain in place for many parts of Camden, Chipping Norton, Woronora and Bonnet Bay
- Evacuation warnings are in place for Wallacia and Picton
- The coastal trough is forecast to weaken overnight
- Intense rainfall rates are no longer expected around the Illawarra coastal areas
- The Woronora River is likely to remain below the minor flood level
- However major flooding is still expected along the Nepean at Wallacia and Camden as well as in North Richmond on the Hawkesbury
- Major flooding is occurring at Menangle and is expected to exceed the March 2022 and 1988 floods
By Paige Cockburn
Evacuation warning for Wallacia
Another 'prepare to evacuate' notice has just come in for parts of Wallacia, which is just near Warragamba Dam.
Residents and businesses in the following areas should get ready to evacuate in the next few hours:
- All properties along Bents Basin Road - Beres Creek, Scotchys Creek and Baines Creek
- All properties between Silverdale Rd (from Blaxlands Crossing bridge to the beginning of the steep rise of the road) and the Nepean River.
The SES says people should move personal possessions to higher places and prepare to take drinking water and food with them.
By Paige Cockburn
People cut off from saving pets
In Chipping Norton, in south-west Sydney, many people are stranded on the side of Newbridge Road unable to get home.
Although people were told to evacuate by 3pm, floodwaters cut off access to some properties by 1pm and many people who were at work ran out of time to get home.
"We've lived here since 1980 ... it's supposedly a one in 50 year flood area but now it’s once a month," she said.
Meanwhile Marilyn says she has no choice but to wait on the side of the road.
"I was hoping to walk over the bridge so my husband could pick me up," she said.
"Last time I was just able to walk over .... it's terrible but what can you do?"
By Paige Cockburn
Man saved from Kangaroo Valley
Photos shared by the RFS show the man's car stuck in water rapids.
A helicopter was used to winch the man to safety.
By Paige Cockburn
Camden looking a lot like it did a month ago....
By Paige Cockburn
Roads cut in Chipping Norton
Floodwaters have cut off Newbridge Road at Chipping Norton in Sydney's south west.
SES crews are turning around cars heading towards Bankstown, while only trucks have been allowed through.
It's traffic gridlock on Newbridge Road, with one car now stuck on the medium strip after trying to turn around.
An industrial state on Riverside Road has cleared out as the Georges River continues to rise.
Many homes on Davy Robinson Drive are now isolated, while some residents have been unable to return to their properties after leaving work early.
Reporting by Mark Reddie
By Paige Cockburn
SES checks car trapped in floodwaters
Aerial vision has just come in showing a SES volunteer checking a flooded car for any occupants in Austral, south west Sydney.
By Paige Cockburn
Got sandbags?
The SES recently said they would look into reports some people were finding it hard to access sandbags through their local council.
Have you had trouble getting your hands on some? Drop us a line by using the big blue comment above.
By Paige Cockburn
Parts of Camden must evacuate
The SES has ordered residents and businesses within the following parts of Camden to evacuate by 6pm:
- Exeter Street west of John Street
- Milford Road Camden West
- Peter Avenue between Onslow Avenue and Belgenny Avenue
- Cawder Road between Barsden Street and Murray Street
- Sheathers Lane
- Kirkham Lane
- Menangle Road near Racecourse Road
- Poplar Caravan Park
- Argyle Street
- Lerida Street
- Elizabeth Street
- Ulmarra Avenue East of Myuna Place
- Mitchell Street
- Edward Street
Once floodwater reaches 11.2 metres at the Camden Weir the area will be isolated and you may become trapped without power or water.
An evacuation centre has been established at Narellan Family and Community Centre on Queen St, Narellan.
The SES advises people to take drinking water and food with them due to possible long travel times.
By Paige Cockburn
How to plan and prepare for a flood
As the SES said earlier, making preparations before waters actually rise is imperative to avoid getting trapped.
This guide by ABC Emergency has many helpful tips which you may not know.
By Paige Cockburn
Flood evacuations made harder by COVID diagnosis
On top of stressing about the flooding, Woronora resident Diane Hoggins is trying to look after her daughter who has tested positive to COVID-19.
Ms Hoggins and her daughter are subject to an evacuation order and feeling a "little but nervous" ahead of high tide this afternoon.
"We've been here for 26 years and this is the highest I've ever seen it," she said.
"I don't want to get wet in my bed in the middle of the night."
While Ms Hoggins has opted to stay, despite the evacuation order, NSW Health has organised accommodation for her daughter.
Meanwhile Jake Polo is evacuating from his Woronora home along with his mum and brother.
"We have to move out because it's flooding a bit and there's no point staying there if we can't get out," he said.
"We might move to our cousins house because we have stuff to do on the weekend."
By Paige Cockburn
Evacuation order for Chipping Norton
The SES has just issued an evacuation order for parts of Chipping Norton, in south-west Sydney.
Residents and businesses must be out of the area by 3pm as once floodwaters reach 2.4 metres at Milperra, the area will be isolated.
This order applies to all properties in the following streets:
- Newbridge Road between Riverside Road and east to Georges River
- Davy Robinson Drive
- Rickard Road
- Arthur Street
To evacuate safely, proceed to Arthur Street from Rickard Road, and then on to Riverside Rd and then Alfred Road.
An evacuation centre is being set up at the Whitlam Leisure Centre in Liverpool.
By Paige Cockburn
The BOM says La Nina will continue throughout April....
By Paige Cockburn
Almost 700 calls for help
Acting Commissioner Daniel Austin from SES says sharp, short busts of rain mean people are being "caught out" without warning.
Over the last 24 hours the SES has responded to more than 680 calls for assistance and conducted 25 flood rescues.
Acting Commissioner Austin urged people to limit all non-essential travel and re-think movements over the school holidays.
Despite the quickly evolving situation, he says there are fewer calls for help than the SES expected as people have made big efforts to prepare their properties.
"I would like to take the opportunity to thank many members of the community for being so proactive over the last 24 hours. They have clearly listened to the warnings that have been put out and we have seen significant demand for sand bags across many parts of the warning area."
By Paige Cockburn
Key updates from the press conference
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The BOM says heavy rainfall will not ease until this evening and moderate rain will continue over the weekend.
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Major flooding is occurring at Menangle and the Upper Nepean will reach a major flood peak this evening. The peak will be higher than the March 2021 and March 2022 flood levels. It will be closer to the April 1988 flood level.
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In Wallacia, major flooding is expected tonight and into tomorrow. It will be higher than the March 2022 event and closer to the April 1998 level.
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In Camden, major flooding is also expected to be higher than what was experienced last month.
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Flood levels in North Richmond are expected to be lower than last month's heights.
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There's potential for major flooding along the Georges River at Liverpool and Milperra this afternoon
- There are also flood warnings for the Hawkesbury, Colo and Cooks Rivers
By Paige Cockburn
