NSW weather LIVE updates: Domestic flight cancellations, Sydney train delays as torrential rain batters Australia’s east coast; SES flood warnings issued

That concludes our coverage of today’s weather events, which saw Sydney receive more rain in a single day than it normally does in a month.

Sydney is bracing for more intense rain in the coming hours, with 200 mm forecast overnight in some places.

A wet pedestrian struggles with her umbrella in the rain in SydneyCredit: Janie Barrett

Residents in Chipping Norton have been ordered to evacuate homes in low-lying areas.

Just northwest of Sydney, residents living near the Hawkesbury have been told to prepare to evacuate.

So far, the city has borne the brunt of the bad weather, receiving 159 mm of rain between 9am Thursday and 8pm on Friday night.

Wahroonga received 154 mm over the same period, while Mosman received 121 mm followed by Penrith at 120 mm.

Here’s the other big events that have been unfolding throughout today.

• The State Emergency Services is urging people in Sydney, Wollongong, Nowra, Batemans Bay and Goulburn to stay indoors this evening, with six-hourly rainfall totals of between 50 and 90 mm likely, and reaching up to 220 mm over the Illawarra escarpment.
• In Sydney’s southwest, the Bureau of Meteorology has said moderate flooding is expected at Liverpool and Milperra on Saturday morning.
• The Bureau of Meteorology has issued major flood warnings from parts of northwest and southwest Sydney, with thunderstorms possibly bringing locally intense rainfall.
• Five people have been flown to hospital after two cars collided in the state’s west, several roads have been closed and some parts of Sydney have been told to prepare to evacuate after the city received more than a month’s worth of rain in a single day.
• In the past 24 hours, there have been 825 calls for help to the SES
• Wakehurst Parkway has been closed due to flooding from 4.30pm on Friday. As of 9pm on Friday night it was still closed.
• On the Northern Rivers, a local farmer rescued a man from floodwater outside his farm near Lismore this morning. The Wilsons River at Lismore peaked at 3.8 metres this morning, lower than the minor flood level it was expected to hit overnight.
• Warragamba Dam – which supplies much of Sydney’s drinking water – is expected to spill on Monday morning as the catchment fills. Water NSW chief executive Andrew George said the dam was currently at 96.3 per cent of capacity, meaning the 100 to 150 millimetres of rain expected would cause the dam to fill and spill.
• Across NSW, there are currently 45 warnings. Two of these are at the ‘Watch and Act’ level, with the remainder at ‘Advice’ level.

Stay safe out there.

Just before 8pm, residents in low-lying areas in the southwest Sydney suburb of Chipping Norton were told to evacuate before midnight as the Georges River rises.

The SES has opened evacuation centres at Bankstown Sports Club and Club Liverpool.

In the northwest, Richmond Club will open at 9pm for those affected by flooding along the Hawkesbury.

The State Emergency Service has issued warnings to residents of Greater Sydney, telling them to prepare to evacuate as water levels along the Hawkesbury River rise.

Northwest of Sydney, those living in Lower Portland east of the Hawkesbury River, residents at Gronos Point as well as Sackville have been told to prepare to evacuate ahead of possible minor flooding.

In Sydney’s southwest, the Bureau of Meteorology has said moderate flooding is expected at Liverpool and Milperra on Saturday morning.

North Cronulla Beach. Rough surf conditions are also expected in addition to intense rainfall.Credit: Louise Kennerley

“Rainfall totals of up to 105 mm have been observed in the Georges and Woronora Rivers catchment since 9:00 am Thursday. Further heavy rainfall is forecast through the catchment for the remainder of Friday and into Saturday. There is still uncertainty associated with the location and intensity of the heaviest falls,” the Bureau said.

It also said the Georges River at Liverpool Bridge may reach the moderate flood level of 3 metres Saturday morning, based on forecast rainfall.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued major flood warnings from parts of northwest and southwest Sydney, with thunderstorms possibly bring locally intense rainfall.

The bureau advises that major flooding is possible at Menangle, in the city’s far southwest, from Saturday morning.

There could also be major flooding at North Richmond in Sydney’s northwest.

Moderate flooding is possible at Windsor, in Sydney’s northwest, overnight Friday.

Minor flooding is also expected at Camden Weir, Wallacia Weir, Penrith, Sackville and Lower Portland.

“Rainfall totals of up to 160 mm have been observed in the Hawkesbury Nepean catchment since 9 am Thursday. Further heavy rainfall is forecast through the catchment for the remainder of Friday and into Saturday. There is still uncertainty associated with the location and intensity of the heaviest falls,” the warning said.

It might not have seemed like a nice day for a white wedding, but one resourceful bride refused to be defeated by the weather.

Brianna Cooke knew days in advance that 3pm on Friday would possibly be the windiest, wettest moment to try and enter St Mary’s Cathedral for her wedding ceremony.

In a bid to shield herself from the worst of the weather, she devised a custom-made outer layer.

Breanna Cooke protects her wedding dress with a sheet when she arrives at St Mary’s Cathedral for her wedding in SydneyCredit: Janie Barrett

Her father Paul Cooke, who walked her down the aisle said: “It was a material she made to stop her from getting wet, she dropped it on the ground and stepped out of it.”

“It was, in layman’s terms, a fitted sheet,” Cooke said.

She deftly managed to remove the cover, before entering the Cathedral.

“Nobody knew, not even guests at the wedding knew,” he said.

While some might be disappointed with the poor weather for their wedding, Cooke said his daughter was philosophical about it.

“All good plans change due to the weather, you have to make the most of any occasion. You know what they say, it is good luck to rain on your wedding day.”

Let’s have a look at the latest rainfall data around Sydney to see which suburbs have experienced the biggest falls between 9am Thursday and 5pm today.

Correction: An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated that the rainfall totals were from 9am to 5pm on Friday. This has been updated.

The State Emergency Services is urging people in Sydney, Wollongong, Nowra, Batemans Bay and Goulburn to stay indoors this evening, with six-hourly rainfall totals of between 50 and 90mm likely, and reaching up to 220 mm over the Illawarra escarpment.

The SES said in its warning that heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding is forecast for the southern parts of the Hunter to the Sydney metro, Illawarra and Central Tablelands districts today.

Six-hourly rainfall totals are likely to reach up to 130mm over the Blue Mountains and Illawarra escarpment, while 24-hour totals of 70 to 120mm are also likely, reaching up to 150mm over the Blue Mountains and Illawarra escarpment.

The area of NSW covered by this evening’s SES warning.Credit: NSW SES

“Within the broad heavy rainfall area, locally intense rainfall which may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding is possible between the Blue Mountains and Narooma from this evening into Saturday morning, then extending further south later Saturday with localised six-hourly rainfall totals between 90 to 150 mm possible, reaching up to 220 mm over the Illawarra escarpment,” the SES warning said.

“Localised 24-hourly rainfall totals between 120 and 200 mm are possible, and may reach up to 300 mm over the Illawarra escarpment. Damaging easterly winds, averaging 60 to 70km/h with peak gusts of around 90 km/h are possible from this evening along the coastal strip south of and including coastal parts of the Sydney metropolitan area, as well as adjacent elevated areas, particularly above 500 metres.”

For more updates on this warning, head to the SES site here.

Our excellent team of photographers are out across NSW, capturing some great shots of the wet and wild conditions.

Wolter Peeters is at Katoomba Falls, where he captured tourists entering floodwaters to take photos. Peeters warned them of the dangers, and said they left the water soon after.

Tourists enter dangerous floodwaters at Katoomba Falls on Friday afternoon. Credit: Wolter Peeters

Rhett Wyman has been in Parramatta this afternoon, on the banks of the Parramatta River near the construction site of the Powerhouse Museum.

In Parramatta on Friday afternoon. Credit: Rhett Wyman

And down on Sydney Harbour, Tom McKendrick captured this dramatic shot of the city.

Looking back at the city as heavy rain falls. Credit: Tom McKendrick

Just an update on the serious crash near Mudgee this afternoon, NSW Police have confirmed that six people are in hospital, including two children.

Police were called Castlereagh Highway south of Mudgee about 2pm, where officers found two cars - a ute and a four wheel drive - had collided. A crime scene has been established, and the highway remains closed.

NSW Police said in a statement:

“Two males were traveling in the utility, with a male, female and two children in the four wheel drive.

The male passenger in the ulitily, believed to be aged in his 60s, was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries.

The male driver of the utility, aged 55, was taken to Mudgee Hospital with minor injuries and for mandatory testing.

The female passenger in the four wheel drive, aged 32, was airlifted to hospital with critical injuries.

The male driver of the four wheel drive, aged 34 was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries.

Two children, aged 2 and 6, who were in the back seat of the four wheel drive, sustained minor injuries and were taken to Westmead Children’s Hospital for observation.”

Sydney has eclipsed its April average rainfall of 127mm, with 131.6mm falling in just 30 hours to 2.30pm on Friday, according to Weatherzone.

The moisture colliding over Sydney and surrounds has led to a month’s worth of rainfall falling in some locations since Thursday.

The map below shows one model’s predicted accumulated rainfall expect until 10am on Saturday, with widespread falls of 50-100mm forecast, and isolated falls of 200-300mm possible across parts of the Illawarra escarpment.

Accumulated forecast rainfall in the 18 hours leading up to 10am AEDT on Saturday, April 5, according to Access-C.Credit: Weatherzone

The deluge is likely to be accompanied by damaging winds tonight and into tomorrow morning, Weatherzone said.

The severe weather is expected to clear the Sydney metro area tomorrow morning, and later in the day for the Illawarra and South Coast regions.