Latest downpour takes Sydney past annual average rainfall in 97 days

Sydney has surpassed its annual rainfall in just over three months and could beat the 1950 record.

A Sydneysider battles heavy rain on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

Sydney has surpassed its annual average rainfall in just 97 days as the latest La Nina weather system wreaks havoc across coastal NSW, causing flooding and a new wave of evacuations.

The news comes as authorities warn the heavy rainfall drenching NSW will continue throughout April.

Observatory Hill recorded 114.8mm in the 24 hours to 9am on Thursday, the highest daily total at the weather station this year and enough to push the annual total past the annual average of 1213.4mm, according to Bureau of Meteorology data.

This year’s total rainfall total now stands at 1226.8mm in just over three months, while the April total in seven days has already exceeded the monthly average.

A falling tree brought down powerlines at North Manly. Picture: SES Manly

A shop front awning in one of Sydney’s eastern suburbs collapsed on Thursday morning. Picture: Supplied

The record annual rainfall total at Observatory Hill of 2194mm was recorded in 1950. By April 7 that year, the total was only up to 535.8mm, less than what has fallen in 2022.

If Sydney receives average rainfall for the rest of the year, it will finish with 2056mm.

The 97-day milestone was chalked up as another “rain bomb” event lashed Sydney and its surrounds, leading to evacuation orders being issued in parts of the Upper Hunter, South Coast, Illawarra and Sydney basin.

“So unfortunately we continue to be in a La Niña event which we know for New South Wales means that we can expect to see higher-than-average rainfall conditions, which is exactly what we have seen over the past couple of months, and we are expecting La Niña to continue throughout the remainder of April,” a spokesperson for the Bureau of Meteorology told reporters.

Heavy rain is on the forecast in Sydney for the rest of the week. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

SES Acting Commissioner Daniel Austin said over 680 calls for help had been made to the service in the last 24-hours, with 25 flood rescues taking place.

“The majority (of rescues) result from flash flooding and people being caught out by significant downpours of rain, particularly in the Sydney basin and also through the Illawarra,” he said.

Major flood warnings are currently in place for Camden, Georges River at Liverpool and Milperra, with waters in Camden expected to surpass the peak of last month’s flood by this evening.

The Parramatta river on Thursday. Picture: John Grainger

There is also a major flood warning in place for Menangle, near Macarthur, with authorities warning floodwaters are set to surpass the 1988 record.

“We are already experiencing major flooding for the community at Menangle, and we have forecast for the major flood peak to occur later this evening and that will be near the April 1988 flood level,” a BOM spokesperson said.

“This is (also) higher than the March 21 and 22 flood levels.”