Sunday 3 July 2022 12:51 AM Sydney storms force 500,000 from their homes in record rain trends now
More than 500,000 residents across southwest Sydney have been warned to evacuate as flash flooding and heavy rain batters NSW.
Camden, Woronora, Chipping Norton, Georges Hill, Lansvale, Moorebank, and Warwick Farm residents were told to leave or risk being trapped by floodwaters.
'If you remain in the area you may be trapped without power, water and other essential services and it may be too dangerous to rescue you,' the SES warned.
More than three times the average rainfall fell in some parts of NSW over the weekend and more than 1,000 calls for help were made to emergency services.
Defence force helicopters are on standby to help with rescue efforts if residents become trapped with no way to escape.
More than 500,000 residents across south-west Sydney have been warned to evacuate as flash flooding and heavy rain batters NSW
NSW SES warned residents who remained behind in areas with evacuation orders risked becoming trapped by rising floodwaters
Shellharbour recorded 193mm of rainfall, 3.2 times its July average rainfall, Albion Park measured 172mm, 3.1 times its average, and Beaumont 161mm, 1.6 times the average.
Major flooding hit Menangle in Macarthur, southwest of Sydney, with river levels exceeding those seen in March this year.
Riverine flooding is also expected along the Hawkesbury and Colo Rivers from Sunday, with major flooding at North Richmond possible from the afternoon.
More than 1,000 calls for help were made to the NSW State Emergency Service overnight.
Authorities are confident they are ready to help NSW residents caught out by the wild weather, and avoid a repeat of their heavily criticised flood response earlier this year.
Defence force helicopters and troops are on standby and emergency services personnel are working around the clock.
The cold front battering the state's east coast is forecast to get worse before it gets better, with wild winds, rough seas, and heavy rain expected to last until Monday.
With three flood rescues carried out on Friday and Saturday, people were urged to avoid non-essential trips as the deluge put a dampener on the opening weekend of the NSW school holidays.
Flooding is also possible for the Hunter, Central Coast, Sydney, and the south coast, with flood watches in place for catchments between Newcastle and Batemans Bay, including Sydney and the Illawarra.
Areas at risk include Newcastle, the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie, and the Upper Coxs, Colo, Macdonald, Woronora, Patterson, Williams, and Lower Hunter rivers.
A severe weather warning for damaging winds and heavy rainfall was in place on Sunday for Sydney, the Illawarra, and parts of the Hunter, Central Tablelands, and Southern Tablelands forecast districts.
It comes as more than three times the average rainfall has fallen in some parts of NSW over the weekend, with more than 1,000 calls for help made to emergency services and defence force helicopters on standby to help with rescue efforts.
A severe weather warning for damaging winds and heavy rainfall was in place on Sunday for Sydney's metropolitan areas, the Illawarra, and parts of the Hunter, Central Tablelands, and Southern Tablelands forecast districts
The Upper and Lower Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers are also causing concern as already-soaked catchments endure another lengthy drenching.
Dramatic footage shows the moment a terrified young woman was rescued from surging floods as wild weather wreaked havoc in NSW on Saturday night.
The woman, believed to be in her 20s, desperately clung to a tree as the freezing current ripped at her after she was swept away by the treacherous waters.
Emergency workers bravely fought to save her and managed get a lifeline to her before plucking her to safety in Holsworthy, southwest Sydney, on Saturday night.
'Please be ready to evacuate on short notice,' NSW Emergency Services Minister Stephanie Cooke said.
'Please ensure that you prepare your properties as best you can and if in any doubt, please evacuate earlier.
'Don't necessarily wait for us to put out an order, asking or suggesting that you leave.'
The terrified woman clung to a tree as she was battered by flood waters in southwestern Sydney
Around 500,000 residents in southwest Sydney have been told to evacuate as the heavy rain pounding the NSW east coast triggered multiple flood warnings
The terrified young woman was rescued from surging floods as wild weather
