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NSW Floods updates: Evacuation warnings issued as water levels rise in Sydney's south-west — as it happened

ABC News Channel live stream

Authorities are warning of a life-threatening emergency in NSW due to floods in Sydney and parts of the state's south-east.

Look back on our live blog, or head to ABC Emergency for the latest information.

Key events

Live updates

By Jessica Riga

Pinned

Where to find emergency assistance and information:

Listen to ABC Local Radio for regular updates:

By Jordan Hayne

And that's where we'll leave today's blog

For the latest information, you can keep an eye on ABC Emergency and the NSW SES.

Remember, in a life-threatening emergency, call 000 for help. For other emergency help, you can also get assistance from the SES by calling 132 500.

Before we go, check out this image of a swollen Nepean River, taken this afternoon.

Stay safe and as dry as you can!

By Jordan Hayne

NSW authorities have wrapped up their press conference

Here's what we've learned:

  • A man has died amid wild weather in Sydney, having fallen out of a kayak on the Parramatta River
  • The weather system delivering heavy rain to the region will cross the coast and "be at its worst" tonight, the BOM projects
  • Flood levels in parts of the affected areas along the Hawkesbury, Nepean and Georges rivers could be higher than other flood events in the past 18 months

By Jordan Hayne

Key Event

'It will be at its worst tonight': BOM

The weather bureau's Jane Golding says the system delivering this rain will be "at its worst tonight".

"That system comes, it crosses the coast before midnight, it looks like, from the guidance, and then it will start to weaken," she says.

She says once it comes ashore, the system will take some time to weaken, but will be gentler by tomorrow.

By Jordan Hayne

Key Event

A man's body has been recovered from Sydney waters

A man has drowned in Parramatta River amid severe weather conditions in Greater Sydney.  

Emergency services were called to the river at Abbotsford around 2:45pm. 

The man was believed to be kayaking before he fell into the water. 

Police tried to rescue the man but he died at the scene. 

Reporting by Helena Burke

By Jordan Hayne

'Hundreds to thousands of homes' at risk

Commissioner York says there are "hundreds to thousands of homes that could be put at risk" and are currently under either evacuation orders or evacuation warnings.

"There are thousands of people that are affected by what we're looking at tonight," she says.

By Jordan Hayne

Not to labour the point but...

Commissioner York is reminding all residents to avoid driving in floodwaters.

By Jordan Hayne

Flood levels could be higher than previous floods

SES commissioner Carlene York says authorities expect water levels to peak at higher levels than they have in previous floods over the past 18 months.

"Just because it got to the front doorstep on the last floods doesn't mean it won't escalate overnight," she says.

She says flash flooding could be a real concern in some areas.

"This could get significantly worse over the night," she says.

By Jordan Hayne

'Key areas' of concern

BOM's Jane Golding says the key areas of concern are along the Hawkesbury, Nepean and the George's rivers.

"We're expecting levels to continue to rise," she says.

Areas north of Sydney may see water peak at levels higher than floods earlier this year.

"Those peaks will be coming through tonight and tomorrow," Ms Golding says.

By Jordan Hayne

WATCH: NSW authorities speak on the flooding situation

Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke will be joined by NSW SES commissioner Carlene York and the Bureau of Meteorology's Jane Golding.

You can watch the press conference as it happens below:

By Jordan Hayne

The Warragamba Dam is spilling at a rate of 500 gigalitres per day, twice as fast as this morning.

By Jordan Hayne

Streets underwater in Camden

By Jordan Hayne

Yes, those are Shetland ponies in a raft

It's not just people SES teams are busy protecting today — these Shetland ponies have been given a ticket to safety by the  SES Bankstown unit.

By Jordan Hayne

PM Anthony Albanese says the federal government is monitoring the situation

By Jordan Hayne

Camden Deputy Mayor Paul Farrow says his community is experiencing the "worst kind of deja vu"

By Jordan Hayne

The Warragamba Dam is now spilling at a rate of 500 gigalitres per day

This is more than double the dam’s rate of spill at 7am, and is comparable to Warragamba’s peak spilling in March 2021. 

WaterNSW says Warragamba first began spilling at 2am, earlier than expected.

By Jordan Hayne

SES rescues driver in Liverpool

The SES says these pictures of a man being rescued from floodwaters in the Liverpool area are a "confronting reminder" to never drive into floodwaters.

By Jordan Hayne

Local councillor says Camden is experiencing 'the worst kind of deja vu'

Camden's Deputy Mayor Paul Farrow says his town has become depressingly used to floods like these.

 "It's devastating. It's the worst kind of deja vu imaginable," he says.

"Here we are finding ourselves, for a fourth time, facing it again."

Mr Farrow says water rose "a lot quicker" in the town this time, and that the council is working with the SES.

there is an evacuation order in place for parts of Camden, and you can find more information here.

By Jordan Hayne

Video shows flooding at Chipping Norton in south-west Sydney

By Jordan Hayne

Upper Nepean levels falling, but floods continue at Menangle

Major Flooding is continuing in Menangle where river levels at the Upper Nepean peaked at 16.61 metres at about 7:50am.  

Heavy rainfall over the Nepean Valley since Saturday morning and high dam levels have resulted in major flooding in River at Menangle. 

Moderate flooding is occurring at Camden and Wallacia, and major flooding is expected at Wallacia. 

The Upper Nepean River is now at 15.84 metres and falling. 

Reporting by Helena Burke

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