More rain to hit Sydney and flood-ravaged NSW communities

Up to 150mm of rain could fall in parts of the state with the wet weather to hit Sydney from today and flood-stricken communities on alert for more downpours.

Another multi-day rain event will hit NSW from today, with flood-stricken communities on alert for more downpours to come.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast up to 150mm of rain could fall in some parts of the state over four days, with the first drops of wet weather to hit Sydney from today.

BOM duty forecaster James Taylor said while the city would likely only see five to 10mm today, more falls would follow in the coming days.

Over the next 4 days parts of #NSW coast could see up to 100mm of rain. A trough is moving over the region and today's the last settled weather day for the rest of the week with showers expected in the east from tomorrow. Check forecasts, monitor warnings: https://t.co/BhXl8NR660pic.twitter.com/GDxCgP6rMy

— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) March 21, 2022

“There’s a trough making its way up the NSW coast, it’s just about to go through Sydney today and then make its way across northeastern NSW to remain in that area over the coming days,” Mr Taylor said.

“There’s a lot of moisture associated with the trough, and moderate rainfall … consistent rainfall is expected in the order of 15 to 40mm a day anywhere along the coast, 20 to 50mm also isn’t out of the question and thunderstorm activity could also enhance totals to 50 to 80mm.”

The rain is expected to impact from the Illawarra up to the NSW/QLD border.

Brace for it, Sydney, more rain is on its way. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

It comes after record-breaking rainfall smashed NSW earlier this month, with 400mm — more than three times March’s usual rainfall — pelting down across the state’s coastal areas and causing widespread flooding.

Eight people died during the weather emergency and thousands were evacuated, with the clean-up bill for lost and damaged homes stretching up to $2 billion.

Mr Taylor said flood-stricken communities in the Northern Rivers like Lismore and Ballina should “certainly” be prepared for heavy rain, which could cause more flash flooding.

Residents in areas hit hard by the floods have been warned to keep an eye on the rain over the coming days, with fears rivers could rise again. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

“We are forecasting accumulating rainfall right through to the end of the week and beyond into next week … it does seem likely we will have rain over those affected areas, but just how much is uncertain,” he said.

“There is a potential of 20 to 30mm each day for the next few days … but depending on where the heavier totals are we could see further river rises, some flood warnings are still current in NSW from the recent rain so we will be watching the rivers very closely.”

Torrential rain devastated parts of Sydney and regional NSW earlier this month. Photo: Muhammad Farooq/AFP

Flood-affected parts of western Sydney and coastal areas have also been warned to watch for severe thunderstorms in the coming days as a southerly change moves through.

Today temperatures are expected to hit 24C in Sydney and Wollongong, while Newcastle will hit 29C.

Dubbo will reach 31C, it will be 30C in Coffs Harbour and Batemans Bay will reach 28C.