Why ABC newsreader Juanita Phillips will be absent tonight

One of the country’s most recognisable newsreaders has revealed why she will be absent from tonight’s television bulletin.

One of the country’s most recognisable newsreaders has revealed why she will be missing tonight’s broadcast.

ABC host Juanita Phillips is among thousands of Sydney residents affected by wild weather.

Sydney roads were thrown into chaos as torrential downpours swept the city throughout Tuesday.

Hundreds of roads were affected and many were shut entirely, leaving commuters questioning if they could make it home.

Across the state there were 59 evacuation orders in place affecting 40,000 people as well as 15 warnings applying to more than 20,000 people.

Motorists were again asked to avoid all non-essential travel and drive with care in the extremely dangerous conditions.

This is the Spit pic.twitter.com/Z2OCeQvHtJ

— Spiney (@spiney21) March 8, 2022

Phillips was caught up in the chaos.

“All three routes into the city now flooded shut. Unfortunately I won’t be able to present (ABC News) 7pm tonight. Stay safe everyone,” she posted online.

One resident replied with a video of the Spit, near Mosman, with water gushing from the hill onto the road.

As Manly Dam in the city’s north began to spill on Tuesday afternoon, a further 800 homes and 2000 people downstream from the area were placed on notice to prepare to evacuate.

“The dam is currently spilling but I am informed by the engineers that the dam itself is safe,” NSW State Emergency Services Commissioner Carlene York said.

Independent MP Zali Steggall posted intense footage of the iconic Manly Corso transformed into a raging rapid.

Manly Corso was inundated as the Manly Dam began to spill. Picture: Zali Steggall

Huge downpours in front of our office in Manly this morning. pic.twitter.com/w7AfOdtYjD

— 🌏 Zali Steggall MP (@zalisteggall) March 8, 2022

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said more instances of flash flooding were expected during the week.

Water levels rose so high on Roseville Bridge, in the city’s north, that traffic became blocked and was unable to get through in a northerly direction.

Roseville Bridge and Pittwater Road at Narrabeen are currently experiencing flooding.

Please exercise caution on the roads around the Northern Beaches this afternoon and do not drive through flood waters. pic.twitter.com/HH51srE8UO

— Jason Falinski MP - For The Beaches (@JasonFalinskiMP) March 8, 2022

On the other side of the city, the Nepean River peaked at 12m, with floodwaters expected to exceed the 13.8m major flood level.

Earlier on Tuesday 100 people were evacuated from the Poplar Tourist Park alongside the river.

Evacuation centres were established at Cabravale Diggers Club and Club Menai for those who could leave their homes safely.

High-speed winds up to 90km/hr are expected to slam metropolitan Sydney and the Illawarra region before weeks of wild weather are expected to finally ease on Thursday.

It was even tough trying to cross the road in Sydney’s big wet. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

The Bureau of Meteorology’s Dean Narramore provided an update on the flood crisis in NSW, warning residents to stay vigilant even as rainfall eases in coming days.

“Since nine o’clock this morning, we have seen 50 to 100mm in the northern suburbs and that is now pushing up to the Central Coast,” he said.

“Rain is continuing across large parts of the metropolitan area, into the Hunter and southwards into the Illawarra.”

Mr Narramore sent an urgent warning for people approaching flooded rivers and roads.

“If it’s flooded, forget it – it’s just too dangerous out there,” he said.

Flooding continues right along the coast of NSW, including the Hunter Region and Mid-North Coast.

The Hawkesbury and Nepean rivers’ flood levels are exceeding record flooding from March 2021 – particularly in the outer western Sydney suburbs of Windsor, Sackville and North Richmond.

People pick up hay bails from the SES on the Hawkesbury River. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Metropolitan Sydney received a drenching overnight, with parts of the city receiving between 50 and 150mm of rain since 9pm on Monday night.

Southern and southwestern suburbs were hit by intense thunderstorms, causing flood levels to peak on the Georges River and flow into the suburb of Liverpool.

Damaging winds are forecast to pick up in the Sydney Metropolitan area and Illawarra escarpment overnight, especially in coastal suburbs.

Wind speeds are expected to reach up to 90km/h, with force strong enough to take down trees already loosened by saturated soils.

The low pressure system will continue to head south before moving out to sea in coming days, bringing significant rainfall to the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and south coast.

Respite is in sight for NSW, with rain expected to ease on Tuesday afternoon before clearing later in the week when sunshine is predicted to return.

Pedestrians brave the rain outside Westfield Parramatta as Sydney and NSW gets drenched. Picture: Supplied

People have been told to remain on high alert when conditions improve, with flooded rivers still carrying dangerous amounts of water.

Motorists have been told to avoid all non-essential travel as floods and heavy rain force multiple road closures and evacuations across Sydney and beyond.

Commuters are also being warned to steer clear of trains and to allow plenty of extra travel time due to the heavy rains impacting the network.

“Avoid any non-essential travel and if you do need to use the network please plan ahead and leave plenty of extra travel time,” Transport for NSW posted on Twitter.

At least 20 main roads were shut down due to flooding on Monday night and remained closed on Tuesday morning as authorities warned conditions could change rapidly.

Residents in multiple southwest Sydney suburbs were forced to evacuate overnight, with residents along the Georges River put under an evacuation order by the SES at 11.30pm.

Eleven evacuation orders are in place impacting 60,000 residents from suburbs across Chipping Norton, Georges Hall, Picnic Point, Pleasure Point and Sandy Point as well as parts of Holsworthy, Lansvale, Milperra, Moorebank and Warwick Farm.

Meanwhile, residents in East Hills were told to evacuate at 2.30am.

SES Assistant Commissioner Sean Kearns said it was an “extremely busy night”.

“We would just like to warn the community … to listen to the warnings from the bureau and to avoid unnecessary travel,” he told Today.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning for Sydney. Picture: BOM

The SES performed 100 flood rescues in the 24 hours to 6.30am and responded to 2400 requests for assistance.

Two bodies have been found in Sydney’s west after police called for information about the whereabouts of Hemalathasolhyr Satchithanantham and her adult son, Bramooth.

Police have been told Bramooth has a number of medical conditions and is non-verbal.

Transport for NSW executive Mark Hutchings asked drivers who did need to use the roads to stay vigilant and take it slow.

To help with congestion around Sydney, Transport for NSW opened the T2 and T3 transit lanes for general use until midnight on Friday.

“Please be advised there will be delays and cancellations across the rail network this week due to flooding. If you are on the network please plan ahead and leave plenty of extra travel time,” Mr Hutchings said.

Landslides are threatening to block roadways, with emergency crews attending multiple incidents on Monday and warning residents to be on alert.

Road crews are scrambling to assess damage and conduct repairs where possible.

The department’s Roger Weeks said delays heading in and out of Sydney should be expected.

Authorities said conditions could change extremely quickly. Image: Anika Gauja

As of 2pm on Tuesday afternoon, roads that remained closed included:

* Lansdowne to Milperra: Henry Lawson Drive is closed between Hume Highway and Bullecourt Ave

* Moorebank: Newbridge Rd closed Henry Lawson Drive and Governor Macquarie Drive

* Elderslie: Argyle Street is closed between Camden Valley Way & Edward St

* Between Narrabeen and Oxford Falls: Wakehurst Parkway is closed.

* Oxford Falls: Oxford Falls Rd is closed between the Wakehurst Parkway and Aroona Rd.

* Between Galston and Hornsby Heights, Galston Rd is closed in both directions for repairs due to severe weather.

* Windsor Bridge, North Richmond Bridge and Yarramundi Bridge are closed.

* Windsor: Hawkesbury Valley Way is closed between Moses St and Percival St.

* North Richmond: Terrace Road is closed between Bells Line of Rd and Brahma Rd.

* Between McGraths Hill and Cattai: Pitt Town Rd, Cattai Rd and Wisemans Ferry Rd are closed.

* McGraths Hill: Windsor Rd is closed between Pitt Town Rd and Macquarie St.

*Maraylya: Cattai Ridge Rd is closed between Street Johns Rd and Halcrows Rd.

* Schofields: Grange Ave is closed at Eastern Creek.

* Riverstone: Garfield Rd West is closed between Richmond Rd and Railway Terrace

* Shanes Park: Stony Creek Rd/St Marys Rd is closed at South Creek.

* Cranebrook: The Northern Rd between Vincent Road and Seventh Ave

* Colo: Putty Road is closed in both directions at the Colo River, and East Kurrajong Rd is closed.

* Douglas Park: Douglas Park Causeway is closed.

* Menangle: Menangle Bridge is closed.

* Royal National Park: Audley Weir is closed.

Other roads had reopened, including:

* In Bexley North, Bexley Rd has reopened between M5 East and Kingsgrove Ave

* In Milperra, Milperra Rd has reopened between Henry Lawson Drive and Marigold St

* In Revesby Heights, The River Rd has reopened between Henry Lawson Drive and Prince St

* In Liverpool, Newbridge Rd has reopened between Heathcote Rd and Speed St

Authorities warned conditions were changing quickly and other roadways could be affected. Motorists were reminded never to drive through floodwaters.

Originally published as Why ABC newsreader Juanita Phillips will be absent tonight