Dubbo, Hunter among 48 regions on flood watch as Sydney breaks 70-year rain record

Commuters are set for more pain this evening after flooding stranded several trains. The delays come as Sydney surpasses its all-time yearly rain record.

Sydney has broken its annual rainfall record, with a third day of steady rainfall taking the NSW capital past the previous record year, 1950.

The city’s annual rainfall hit 2211.4mm at 1.30pm (AEDT), passing the 72-year total of 2194mm about 20 minutes earlier, with 86 days of the year left.

In a year that brought three floods crises to Sydney’s northwest, west and southwest, the city’s monthly rainfall has been higher than average in eight of the 10 months this year.

The October rainfall in less than six days is already greater than the whole month’s average.

Ten days this year, including Thursday, have topped 50mm, while two have surpassed 100mm.

This thing is enormous. Eastern SA, western NSW and western Vic saw heavy rain overnight and the system is now heading east. Numerous flood warnings are in place so please check our warnings page https://t.co/PtF5gqmTIW pic.twitter.com/3sursR6f9B

— Weatherzone (@weatherzone) October 5, 2022

The city’s annual average rainfall of 1211.3 was exceeded on April 7.

Observatory Hill records date back to 1858.

The big wet is set to cause havoc on trains, with Central station facing a partial shutdown as Intercity rail services – including Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Newcastle, and the South Coast – being prevented from entering or exiting platforms due to floodwaters rendering parts of Redfern station inoperable.

Customers are being advised to take alternative routes home using lines on the T1 to T8.

Meanwhile, Western Sydney residents smashed by repeated floods over the last 18 months have been urged to prepare for another wet weather battering over the weekend, as residents across the state are warned to brace for a “danger day” of rain on Saturday.

Emergency services Minister Steph Cooke said rain battering Sydney was set to worsen over the weekend.

Sydney is bracing for a drenching. Picture: Jeremy Piper

“We’ve seen a lot of rain around Sydney today, but it’s only going to get worse unfortunately, Saturday is likely to be our danger day if for Sydney and surrounding areas (as) we know that our catchments are saturated,” she said.

Minor flood warnings are already in place at Richmond and Windsor with modelling underway to see how high the swollen Nepean and Hawkesbury River systems are set to rise.

Ms Cooke said she understood why residents, who have dealt with four major floods in just over 18 months, would be “anxious”.

“It’s not lost on me for one moment that there are many communities through the Hawkesbury Nepean that have experienced four floods in 18 months, and that there is anxiety in the community, that is completely understandable under the circumstances,” she said.

NSW SES volunteers monitor flood waters in Nyngan in the NSW outback. Picture: NSW SES

“What we are asking of the community again and they continue to step up time and time again. Just keep working with us through this time.”

The Bureau of Meteorology’s Gabrielle Woodhouse said initial forecasts were for minor flooding in western Sydney but this could “easily go upwards” over the weekend.

“If we start to see that low pressure system stay for a little bit longer and produce a little bit more rain (then) you can see those river levels increase further. So at the moment, our best information is minor flooding but it could easily go upwards if we see more rainfall.”

Bathurst, Warren and Gunnedah are among the communities in western NSW set to face heavy rain and potential increased flooding over the weekend, she added.

It comes with communities in the state’s west already experiencing significant flooding, with major highways closed including the Kamilaroi Highway, Kidman Way and the Carnarvon Highway as of Thursday afternoon.

Flooded main street of Maitland during February 1955.

Rural properties in Warren, northwest of Dubbo, are facing another four weeks of isolation after already being stranded for four to six weeks due to recent deluge.

“Our absolute focus is currently inland NSW. We’ve got 12 rivers under flood watch with these systems coming across. We’re really looking at Gunnedah, Wee Waa, Warren, Tumut, Gundagai, Wagga Wagga, Cobar, Wellington, Nyngan, Forbes, Bathurst and the Hunter,” NSW SES Operator Adam Jones said.

“There’s a lot of flooding this year … but no two floods are the same. With the ground as wet as it is, and the catchments full, any rain that falls can cause a flash flood. If you're going on a long trip this weekend, plan ahead.”

Volunteer-based State Emergency Service (SES) teams are working with partner agencies across affected areas with six helicopters, six high-clearance vehicles, boats and flood rescue assets in their fleet.

Furniture being removed from a house as the Iron Bark Creek breaks its banks during the Maitland floods in February 1955.

Although an ease in rainfall on Wednesday night saw minor reprieve for some NSW communities, BOM warned the weekend is likely to bring a new wave of pain.

“Another (low-pressure) system is expected to move into the far west later today (Thursday). This system will continue to move east, and on the weekend, we expect the low centre to deepen off the southern or central parts of the NSW coast,” BOM’s Morgan Pumpa said on Thursday.

Raging flood waters during the Maitland floods in March 1955.

“We may see an increase in the amount of rain, but there’s a bit of uncertainty in the exact location of where this low will deepen.”

In the last 24 hours till Thursday morning, Robertson in the Illawarra copped the state’s biggest drop of 104mm, followed closely by 95.5mm at Macquarie Pass and 90mm in Clover Hill.

Dumps of up to 90mm are expected to hit the metropolitan, parts of the coast and western suburbs, over the weekend.

Heavy rainfall is also threatening to saturate sporting fields and spoil the launch of the Bathurst 1000 with up to 105mm forecast to fall in Mount Panorama over the course of the event.

The SES has warned racegoers, including over 6000 campers, of a potential flooding wipe-out leading to campsite closures.

NSW SES Commissioner Carlene York said flooding in the Hunter Region was “of concern”and urged property owners in all affected areas across the state to move their livestock to safer grounds.

“There is always a chance, depending on the rainfall … for flash flooding,” Comm York said on Thursday.

“I would encourage residents that are in an area at risk of flooding to have an emergency kit … think about domestic pets. We will try to give you as much notice as possible (to evacuate).”

She also issued a critical warning for motorists: “If there’s water across the road, please do not drive through. Make sensible decisions … find an alternative route.”

Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Peter Cotter echoed a similar plea to school holiday travellers and racegoers heading to the Bathurst 1000.

“Our message is very simple: for those going to the races … please don’t race to the races. Take 10 or 20 kilometres off your speed. It is not worth the trauma or tragedy if something were to happen to you and your family,” he said.

The state government has flagged the raising of Warragamba Dam as a priority. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Meanwhile, the Commonwealth and NSW have jointly funded disaster assistance for 27 local government areas across the state.

“We know it’s going to be difficult week but it’s going to be even more of a difficult summer. We expect with heavy rainfall over this period of time,” Premier Dominic Perrottet said, when he visited Western Sydney on Wednesday to oversee emergency preparations.

“We know there'll be many challenges as we move through this period of time but our focus as a government is to save lives, protect property, and our SES volunteers do an amazing job putting their lives on the line and protecting us.”

On Wednesday, Minister for Emergency Services Steph Cooke said 1130 requests for assistance had been lodged since September 14 with 84 flood rescues completed by emergency services.