Heavy overnight rainfall has caused Warragamba Dam to spill over, leading to widespread evacuation orders and road closures across New South Wales. Up to 200mm of rain fell in parts of the state, prompting residents in low-lying areas around Sydney’s Georges River to prepare for evacuation.
The Nepean River area was alerted to the dam’s overflow early Friday morning. The Bureau of Meteorology issued flood warnings for Sydney, the Illawarra, and the South and Central Coasts.
NSW Premier Chris Minns expressed concern for areas south-west of Sydney, particularly the Nepean-Hawkesbury region, where the State Emergency Service (SES) deployed resources in anticipation of potential flash and riverine flooding.
Flooding near the Nepean River leads to road closures and emergency efforts to safeguard affected areas.The bureau warned of possible moderate flooding in the Upper Nepean, Hawkesbury, Lower Nepean, Georges, and Woronora Rivers.
Senior meteorologist Angus Hines highlighted that additional rainfall could exacerbate flooding, especially in already saturated areas like the Illawarra. Flash flooding has already resulted in road closures and property inundations, with the risk persisting through the morning.
The Menangle Bridge was closed as floodwaters rose, with the river expected to reach 10 meters by midday. In Goulburn, the Sooley Dam began spilling, causing flooding along the Wollondilly River.
In Picton, southwest of Sydney, the SES conducted door-to-door evacuations due to rising waters. The SES handled 447 storm-related incidents in the last 24 hours, with the majority occurring in the Illawarra and South Coast regions.
A severe weather warning remains in effect for parts of Illawarra and the South Coast, with more heavy rainfall expected. Rainfall totals could reach up to 130mm in isolated areas before easing later today as the weather system weakens. Sydney recorded 57mm of rain in the 19 hours leading to Friday morning.