Sydney, Hunter Region and south coast brace for heavy rainfall, possible flash flooding

It’s time to get the brollies back out with almost another week of rain expected to hammer Sydney and its surrounds, with the SES and BOM warning of possible flash flooding.

The rare sunshine Sydneysiders have enjoyed early in recent days is forecast to be short lived.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) is expecting up to 150mm of rain to fall between Wednesday and Friday, with up to 60mm tipped for Thursday alone.

BOM engagement officer Morgan Pumpa said there was a risk of flash flooding across Sydney.

“It’s important people keep in mind flood flashing is possible, especially on Thursday, for Sydney but also from the Hunter down to the south coast,” she said.

Grey skies will soon return to Sydney and its neighbours. Picture: Jeremy Piper

“We expect the rain to really pick up from late afternoon to early evening Wednesday. People need to keep in mind things will be really wet all across eastern NSW so river rises are also possible.”

Ms Pumpa said the rain was not expected to be as severe as what Sydney had experienced in recent weeks.

The Bureau of Meteorology predicts rain will stick around until early next week. Picture: Jeremy Piper

“Previously with flooding we have seen a low pressure system moving down the coast whereas this is a high pressure system combining with the trough that is deepening,” she said.

“The high pressure system is bringing moist easterly air flow onto coastal parts and eastern parts of the state.”

Parts of the south coast which have received a battering in recent weeks could see up to 90mm of rain on Thursday, Ms Pumpa said.

Up to 100mm of rainfall was possible for Wollongong, Illawarra and other northern parts of the coast. At Newcastle and Merimbula, on the state’s south coast, only 25-30mm was forecast.

Sydney residents have become used to this colour scheme. Picture: David Swift

“Central parts of the coast will be the focus but anywhere from Hunter to the south coast could see heavy rainfall,” Ms Pumpa said.

In some disheartening news, the wet weather is expected to stick around until early next week although Ms Pumpa said the worst was expected to ease across the weekend.

The BOM does not expect flooding to reach levels seen in recent weeks. Photo: Lisa Maree Williams

“It’s really important to keep an eye on conditions in marine areas because we’ve had hazardous surf and gale force winds across coastal areas, so marine environments have changed as we head into the holidays,” she said.

“It has been a very wet February and March and things haven’t had a chance to dry out. Soils are wet and saturated at parts so people should keep in mind landslips are possible.”