Fourth person confirmed dead as deluge continues on NSW Mid North Coast

Police have revealed the tragic location they discovered the fourth victim of the devastating NSW floods.

A fourth person has been confirmed dead as the devastating floods continue across the NSW Mid North Coast and Hunter regions.

The body of a man, believed to be in his 70s, was found inside a vehicle that had run off Orara Way in Nana Glen - about 30km northwest of Coffs Harbour - at about 4.30am Friday, after the car was spotted by a passing motorist.

The man is yet to be formally identified.

Nearly 50,000 people have been cut off in the deadly flooding that has now claimed four lives in the NSW Mid North Coast and Hunter regions.

Severe weather is expected to continue to smash parts of eastern NSW, as the wet conditions move south towards Gosford, Newcastle and Bowra throughout Friday.

The Blue Mountains and the Illawarra ranges have received 150mm of rainfall in the span of 24 hours.

The Mid North Coast has copped 100mm of rain in the past 24 hours, with another 50mm to 100mm smashing Sydney and its surrounds.

The city is facing another deluge of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms on Friday morning.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said severe warnings had been issued for regions from the Illawarra to the Snowy Mountains, with some areas to receive six-hourly totals of 50mm to 100mm.

“Basically inland of Wollongong all the way down to around inland of around the Marimbula area,” he said on Friday morning.

Mr Narramore said the majority of the rainfall would hit the southern Sydney region, stretching into the southeastern pockets of the state.

“Rain (will be) easing in the mid-north (on Friday), in the Hunter Region (Friday) afternoon, the Sydney region late (Friday) afternoon into this evening, and then easing through southern parts of New South Wales as we move through (Friday) with just a few isolated showers remaining,” he said.

More than 1000 rescue calls have been made to the SES since Sunday.

Anthony Albanese will visit some of the areas hardest hit by the floods on Friday morning, which he has described as “pretty horrific”.

The Prime Minister told Triple M Newcastle he was “on the road” on Friday morning, confirming he would visit Taree to see first-hand what was happening and thank the “extraordinary people of the SES”.

Mr Albanese said funding would be available to those affected by the flooding from Monday afternoon.

“People can just log on to the MyGov site to be able to get that support,” he said.

Evacuation centres and support will also be available through Services Australia, Mr Albanese said.

“Tragically, there’s so much experience in dealing with these events already this year,” he said.

“We will make sure that that support is available as a priority.”

Anthony Albanese will make a stop at Taree on Friday. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

Overnight, the NSW SES responded to more than 1,500 incidents across the state and rescued 177 people from the floodwaters, totalling to 678 rescues since the wild weather began.

NSW SES State Duty Commander Assistant Commissioner Colin Malone said while the rain was expected to begin easing later on Friday, the risk from flooding was far from over.

“For the last few days, our efforts have focused on undertaking lifesaving rescues, where more than 600 have been carried out since this flooding began,” he said.

More than 50,000 residents are at risk of being isolated and more than 9,000 homes are under threat as major flooding continues to cause carnage along the coast.

NSW Police have warned of the dangers of dangerous debris and animals - including snakes and vermin - lurking in floodwaters, and urged residents to steer clear of the rising waters.

NSW SES deputy commissioner Damien Johnston said there were many risks in homes or premises that have been inundated.

“Electricity can also pose a danger as well so when you return, make sure you assess those risks,” he said.

“If you’re unsure, especially with electrical hazards, get a qualified electrician in and make sure that it is free of risk.

“Don’t risk yourself and your family.”

Roads are inundated with water across towns such as Taree. Picture: NewsWire / Scott Calvin

More than 150 flood warnings are in place, with major flooding warnings for the Nambucca, Macleay, Hastings, Manning and Paterson Rivers and Wollombi Brook.

There are 40 emergency warnings in place, 86 act and watch warnings, and 27 advice warnings across parts of eastern NSW.

More than 500 boats and nine helicopters have been deployed to rescue residents, and more than 2,200 volunteers are on the ground to assist those isolated in the floodwaters.

Rain began to ease in Macksville on Thursday evening, giving residents a sense of relief for Nambucca catchments along the Mid North Coast, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

Senior meteorologist Angus Hines told the ABC there would be “much less rainfall” in the flood-affected areas from Friday.

“In fact, no rainfall across most areas which are still experiencing significant major flooding,” he said.

However, the risk of life-threatening flooding remains.

Mr Malone said that despite rain beginning to taper off in the Mid North Coast, residents were not out of the woods yet.

“We may see renewed rises as water from earlier heavy falls makes its way downstream,” he said.

Taree is one of the hardest hit towns. Picture: NSW Police

Conditions will finally start to ease on Friday morning across the northern parts of the Mid North Coast as the band of rain finally shifts south, though the Bureau said there was a long way to go.

“A big change finally after four days, where the weather pattern had not budged, and that’s why we saw so much rain in the same areas,” Mr Hines told the ABC.

“Yesterday, that band of rain slid southward and really stretched across a large part of NSW.”

The deluge is finally expected to begin easing on Saturday.

Three lives have already been lost due to the floods.

Road closures as floods swamp NSW

Numerous roads and highways have been closed as the rain triggers enormous floods and landslides across the state.

The Pacific Highway remains closed in both directions between Coopernook and Purfleet, near Taree, per Live Traffic NSW.

The Oxley Highway is also shut between Thrumster and Wauchope, as well as at Rosewood, Long Flat and Mount Seaview.

Failford Rd is closed between The Lakes Way and the Pacific Highway, and the Giinagay Way is closed between North Macksville and Nambucca Heads.

Waterfall Way has been shut between Bellingen and Raleigh, and between Dorrigo Mountain and Thora.

Seaham Road is closed at Raymond Terrace, and Sandgate Rd is closed between the Pacific Highway and the Newcastle Inner City Bypass.

Nelson Bay Road is closed between Richardson Road and Williamtown Drive, and Main Road is closed at Gillieston Heights.

In the Greater Sydney area, Richmond and Windsor have recorded more than 180mm of rain since 9am Thursday, leaving St Mary’s Rd and Stoney Creek Rd closed due to severe flooding.

With more rain set to come, dams are at risk of overflowing.

Dams near breaking point

WaterNSW has warned the Warragamba Dam, which services much of Sydney, is at risk of overflowing and spilling on Friday afternoon or early Saturday morning.

“The Warragamba Dam storage level is currently at 96 per cent of capacity,” a statement read.

“The exact timing and volume of a spill will depend on catchment rainfall and the resulting inflow into the dam.

“Under the more likely forecast scenario, the dam would begin to spill later Friday or into Saturday morning.”

Premier Chris Minns said despite the risk of the dam overflowing, no evacuation alerts have been issued in the Hawkesbury region.

However there was still a risk these conditions could change, he warned.

“The truth is 40 per cent of floodwaters don’t come over the top of Warragamba Dam, they come through the Colo, South Creek, Nepean and other river systems on the north of that river end,” he told ABC Radio Sydney.

Hundreds of people have been rescued from the rapidly rising waters. Picture: NSW SES

Thousands in the dark as floods trigger power outages

More than 1000 homes and businesses are without power across Boolaroo, Booragul, Cardiff and Macquarie Hills, though Ausgrid estimates electricity will be restred by 9.20am Friday. In Sydney, nearly 3000 homes and businesses are in the dark, with power outages affecting Auburn, Beral and Lidcombe.

Ausgrid confirmed it was a moderate outage with power expected to be restored by 10.30am Friday.

The rain is moving south and expected to last until Saturday. Picture: Windy

Trains cancelled across NSW

Trains have been cancelled in both directions between Morisset and Newcastle Interchange on Friday morning as floodaters impact the tracks at Cockle Creek.

“Limited replacement buses are running,” a NSW Incident statement read.

“Please delay your travel between Morisset and Newcastle Intg.”

Due to flooding at Sandgate, services have also been cancelled for the entire Hunter line, with limited busses replacing trains between Dugong, Scone and Newcastle Interchange.

David Knowles found dead in floodwater at Moto in NSW.

Four confirmed dead in devastating floodwaters

Moto farmer David Knowles has been identified as the first of four people to have died in the devastating floods.

The 63-year-old’s body was found “ankle-deep” in water on the veranda of his home on North Moto Road, northeast of Taree, about 3pm on Wednesday.

Authorities later said a man – believed to be in his 30s – died in floodwaters near Rosewood, about 4km west of Wauchope.

Police on Thursday evening confirmed the third body was that of a woman in her 60s, who had been travelling between Armidale and Coffs Harbour on Wednesday night when her car became trapped in floodwaters on Morora Road, Brooklana.

She was travelling in a convoy with a police officer about 7pm, with the officer unable to continue in his sedan when the pair reached ankle-deep flood waters.

Assistant Commissioner David Waddell told reporters the officer had cautioned the woman not to drive through floodwaters, and gave her his phone number in case of an emergency.

The woman continued to drive, before calling the officer 30 minutes later in trouble.

Police were unable to locate her or her vehicle. Her body was found in her 4WD on Thursday.

A fourth person is still missing.

Originally published as Fourth person confirmed dead as deluge continues on NSW Mid North Coast