NSW flooding as it happened: Three dead, 50,000 isolated as rainfall continues to batter state; Warragamba Dam could spill; More wet weather ahead

Thank you for reading our live coverage of the northern NSW flood disaster, with the escalating emergency prompting a large-scale response amid record-breaking rainfall.

We’re wrapping up our live coverage for now, but we’ll be back first thing tomorrow with live updates on everything that happened overnight.

For now, here’s what you need to know:

• Flooding intensified on much of the Mid North Coast today.
• Meteorologists predict severe weather will start to descend on the southern Hunter, Blue Mountains and the Southern Highlands regions on Friday.
• Three people have died in floodwaters, including a 63-year-old man found in his home, and a man in his 30s and a 60-year-old woman, both of whom were trapped in their cars.
• Grave fears are held for a fourth person who remains missing: a 49-year-old man who reportedly walked into floodwaters.
• Nearly 600 people have been rescued by emergency services, and 50,000 are isolated by floodwaters.
• In Kempsey, a levee protecting the town’s central business district from the Macleay River was breached early on Thursday.
• Taree, where the Manning River has risen to a level never recorded before, experienced one-third of its annual average rainfall in the past two days and remained extensively flooded.
• Sections of Port Macquarie are flooded, along with several other towns along the Hastings River.
• The federal and state governments have activated disaster recovery allowances for LGAs across the Mid North Coast and the Hunter.
• Head here for our full report of the day’s events.

In a show of interstate solidarity, 24 Victorian emergency services personnel will arrive in New South Wales tonight to contribute to the flood response.

The contingent includes emergency services staff and volunteers from the Victoria State Emergency Services, Fire Rescue Victoria and the Country Fire Authority.

They’re accompanied by others, including 14 incident management personnel, nine community liaison officers and a jurisdictional liaison officer.

A Victorian State Emergency Services team at work clearing storm damage in February.Credit: Nine News

“Victorians are ready to support our interstate colleagues no matter the time of year. After a busy season at home, our emergency services are once again dedicating their time to helping others,” Acting Emergency Management Commissioner Allyson Lardner said in a statement.

“Our thoughts are with the local emergency services and communities in NSW as they continue to feel the impacts of this weather event.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has shared his thoughts with the loved ones of the 60-year-old woman whose body was recovered from floodwaters this afternoon.

“Terrible news tonight to hear of another life lost in the floods,” he wrote in a statement.

“All Australians are thinking of those on the NSW Mid Coast experiencing very difficult and dangerous conditions. My thoughts are with the loved ones of those that have lost their lives in this terrible ongoing incident.”

Kempsey Shire Council is asking for donations of warm clothing, sleeping bags and blankets for local residents staying in evacuation centres overnight.

The council put out the request to anyone who can safely travel to the evacuation centre at Kempsey Showground.

There are 15 evacuation centres currently open across the affected areas.

Earlier today, NSW Police released this footage of one of their PolAir helicopters air-lifting people off their roofs in Taree.

Watch the incredible footage here:

WaterNSW has advised that current rainfall forecasts would likely result in a spill at the Warragamba Dam in the coming days.

Warragamba Dam, located in the outer south-western Sydney suburb of the same name, is currently at 96 per cent capacity.

It supplies 80 per cent of Sydney’s drinking water.

In a statement, WaterNSW said the exact timing of the spill was difficult to predict because of the more than 9000-square-kilometre catchment area that flows into the dam.

“The Bureau is forecasting periods of intense rain overnight in the catchment, which could see the dam fill and begin spilling as early as tomorrow (Friday) morning under the Bureau’s less likely (25% chance) scenario. Under the more likely forecast (50% chance) scenario, the dam would begin to spill later Friday or into Saturday morning,” the statement read.

“It is likely that a number of other smaller Greater Sydney dams may experience minor spills in coming days, including Nepean, Cataract and Woronora.”

It is not uncommon for the Warragamba Dam to flood – it’s happened 50 times in the past 65 years. The dam gates open when water rises above the full supply level during times of flood.

Sukhbreet Singh feared for his life as floodwater filled his stranded truck on Tuesday night, forcing him onto the vehicle’s roof around midnight as he desperately sought protection against the rapidly rising water in Taree.

He was among several who were forced to higher ground, often on house roofs and verandahs, as the town received one-third of its annual average rainfall in two days.

“I was not feeling good – I was dying, no one was coming,” Singh said.

“I lost everything in the truck, credit cards, keys, everything.”

Singh was rescued by an emergency services boat at about 8am on Wednesday and has now safely checked into a motel.

In a tragic turn of events, the 60-year-old woman whose body was recovered from floodwaters this afternoon had been driving in a convoy with a police officer who decided not to continue.

In a Newcastle press conference, Assistant Commissioner David Waddell detailed how the pair were driving from Dorrigo towards Coffs Harbour at about 7pm last night when they reached floodwaters at Wild Cattle Creek Bridge near Megan.

The officer decided to turn back because he was driving a standard NSW Police BMW sedan. He spoke to the woman, who then opted to continue because she was driving a 4WD and the water was only ankle-deep.

“He gave her his phone number and told her to continue with caution, and not to enter floodwaters,” Waddell said.

But only 30 minutes later, she called the officer to let him know she was in trouble on Lower Bobo Road near Brooklana.

Despite the best efforts of emergency services, the woman could not be located last night.

“In a search of the area today, we’ve located the woman in her vehicle, deceased,” Waddell said

“Obviously, the police officer who spoke to the woman is very traumatised, and we’re wrapping support services around him.”

NSW Police held a press conference in Newcastle after confirming a third fatality on the Mid North Coast.

Watch here:

NSW Premier Chris Minns visited Raymond Terrace this afternoon after addressing the media.

The premier spoke to locals, and Herald photographer Dean Sewell was there to capture it.

NSW Premier Chris Minns talks to locals at Raymond Terrace.Credit: Dean Sewell

NSW Premier Chris Minns visits flood-affected Raymond Terrace on Thursday.Credit: Dean Sewell