Warragamba Dam spilling over after reaching capacity from rain deluge smashing NSW east coast

A major dam which stores about 80 per cent of Sydney’s water is spilling over after a rain deluge, prompting urgent evacuation alerts.

A major dam which stores about 80 per cent of Sydney’s water is spilling over after a rain deluge smashed the east coast of NSW.

Warragamba Dam, located in the Blue Mountains region, reached its full 2027 gigalitres capacity overnight after heavy rain fell across the state.

In a statement, Water NSW said the spill commenced at 5.45am on Saturday morning.

They urged residents to follow the Bureau of Meteorology and State Emergency Service (SES) for flooding and weather updates.

The NSW State Government’s own operating rules and protocols prevent the release of water from the dam - which would reduce the storage level ahead of predicted rainfall for flood mitigation purposes.

Following heavy rainfall overnight across Sydney's water supply catchments, Warragamba Dam is at full capacity and started spilling at 5:45am. Follow @BOM_NSW for flood advice and warnings and the @NSWSES as the lead agency for emergency information.

— WaterNSW (@WaterNSW) April 5, 2024

People watch on as the Windsor Bridge is impacted by floodwater from the Hawkesbury River in Windsor, West Sydney : Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

The Windsor Bridge is one of many affected by the flooding that swept through the state. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Warragamba Dam’s spill gates, pictured on Saturday morning. Picture: Supplied

The Warragamba Dam catchment area covers 9000sqkm and stretches across much of the Blue Mountains to Goulburn in the south, and to Lithgow in the north.

It is currently at 96 per cent capacity.

The dam is spilling at a rate of about 200 gigalitres per day after receiving an average of 100mm of rain from midnight.

The sub-catchment, close to the dam wall, received ~130mm of rain.

“Inflows to the dam are currently about 225 gigalitres per day and decreasing, with a peak of 285 gigalitres per day recorded at around 9am,” WaterNSW said in a statement.

“With the flooding in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley the spill will contribute to the flood waters already in the system.”

The spill follows thousands of Aussies being warned to “evacuate now” or risk becoming trapped after forecasts of “life-threatening” flash flooding and up to 300mm of rain falling in parts of the state.

Footage from one resident in Bowral, in NSW’s Southern Highlands region, has captured the extent of the flood havoc as dozens of flood warnings remain in place for catchments across the state, and in Queensland as the deluge continues.

In the phone footage, the creek can be seen overflowing into a resident’s yard as the current continues to surge.

It emerges as NSW transport authorities warn multiple major roads are now completely closed due to flooding.

A Bowral resident captured the extent of the flooding from her property. Picture: Supplied

The Wakehurst Parkway is closed in both directions due to flooding between North Narrabeen and Oxford Falls, NSW Transport said in a statement.

“Oxford Falls Rd is closed in both directions due to flooding between Wakehurst Parkway and Aroona Rd,” the statement continues.

In addition, the Princes Highway closed northbound at Engadine and Macquarie St being closed in both directions between Bell St and Brabyn St at Windsor

South of Sydney, the Illawarra Highway is closed in both directions between Tongarra Rd and the M1 at Albion Park, and at Macquarie Pass.

The Newell Highway remains closed in both directions between Moree and Boggabilla.

Multiple train lines have also been cancelled and buses are replacing ferries between Paramatta and Rydalmere due to the weir overflowing.

Warragamba Dam (pictured in 2022) reached capacity on Saturday morning and began spilling over, WaterNSW confirmed in a statement. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

A road submerged under floodwater in Vineyard, Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

NSW’s State Emergency Service (SES) has already issued 11 urgent evacuation warnings for residents to leave “immediately” as floodwaters continue to rise.

One alert for low-lying areas along Sydney’s Narrabeen Lagoon covers people living in Warriewood, North Narrabeen and Narrabeen Peninsula.

“If you remain in the area, you may become trapped without power, water, and other essential services,” the SES’ warning, issued on Saturday morning, states.

“It may be too dangerous for NSW SES to rescue you, and buildings may not be able to withstand the impact of flood water.”

Another urgent evacuation warning has been issued for Picton in the Macarthur region after the town’s CBD was inundated with floodwaters.

62 alerts remain active on the SES’ website.

Multiple properties in Cumberland Reach near Sydney have been urged to evacuate, with the SES warning covering 450 to 480 Laws Farm Road and 560 to 600 and 501 Laws Farm Road.

The NSW SES is directing people in the following area to EVACUATE NOW due to rising hazardous minor flooding:
All of the following properties in Cumberland Reach:
- 450 to 480 Laws Farm Road
- 560 to 600 and 501 Laws Farm Road
Find out more: https://t.co/cj1SgSIv7lpic.twitter.com/LkNCFSwP1c

— NSW SES (@NSWSES) April 5, 2024

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned heavy rainfall could lead to flash flooding over the Sydney Metropolitan, Illawarra, and Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands and South Coast regions this weekend.

Residents in the Blue Mountains and Narooma districts have been warned to brace for possible “life-threatening” flash flooding from intense local falls.

Six-hourly rainfall totals between 90 to 150mm are possible in these areas, according to the bureau.

“Localised 24-hourly rainfall totals between 120 and 200mm are possible and may reach up to 300mm over the Illawarra escarpment,” the bureau’s warning states.

Damaging wind gusts of up to 90kmh have also been forecast in the South West Slopes and along coastal parts of the Sydney Metropolitan area.

Peak wind gusts of up to 125kmh have also been forecast for alpine regions but the bureau says this will ease through Saturday morning.

Thousands of people in NSW have been urged to evacuated after the state was smashed by a month’s worth of rain over Friday, with more continuing over Saturday morning. Picture: Supplied / Weatherzone

The Hawkesbury River swelling to almost 6m from the rain, leading to a warning for the nearby Windsor Bridge. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

The wild weather has been attributed to a deepening trough along the NSW coast under the influence of a slow-moving upper level low over the central part of the state.

“Areas of heavy rain and gusty showers and a few thunderstorms will become more widespread south of about Gosford, including over the ranges and tablelands,” the bureau’s severe weather warning states.

“Severe weather has started easing from the north and will continue to do so this morning as the trough moves southeast to the Tasman Sea.”

Multiple evacuation centres have already opened and are accepting residents amid the deluge.

People on the eastern side of Chipping Norton — next to the Georges River, near Bankstown in Sydney’s south west — were told to get out before midnight on Friday.

Flooding is also possible at Emu Plains, Penrith, North Richmond, Lower Portland, Freeman Reach, Sackville North, Picton, Ebenezer, Bligh Park, Jamisontown, Mulgoa, Gronos Point and Agnes Bank – all in Sydney’s western fringes.

While the wild weather appears to have eased in Queensland, multiple flood warnings issued through the week remain in place on the bureau’s website.

Sandbags have been prepared by the NSW SES unit in Gosford for potential flooding. Picture: Supplied / Facebook

Multiple roads and bus and train routes have been affected as a result of the rain deluge. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Major Sydney roads closed to motorists due to flooding:

• Wakehurst Parkway is closed in both directions due to flooding between North Narrabeen and Oxford Falls.
• Oxford Falls Road is closed in both directions due to flooding between Wakehurst Parkway and Aroona Road.
• The Princes Highway is closed northbound at Engadine.
• Cambridge Avenue is closed both directions between Moorebank Avenue and Railway Parade at Glenfield.
• Bells Line of Road is closed in both directions at Richmond Bridge.
• Wisemans Ferry Road is closed in both directions at Cattai.
• Macquarie Street is closed in both directions between Bell Street and Brabyn Street at Windsor.
• Bexley Road is closed both directions at Bexley North.
• Illawarra Highway is closed in both directions between Tongarra Road and the M1 at Albion Park.
• Illawarra Highway is also closed at Macquarie Pass.
• Newell Highway remains closed in both directions between Moree and Boggabilla.

Other roads where motorists are advised to take extra care due to water on the road include:

• Centenary Drive at Strathfield
• Epping Road at Lane Cove North
• Newbridge Road at Moorebank
• Hume Highway at Lansvale
• Lawrence Hargrave Drive at Coalcliff
  

Affected public transport routes:

• T8 Airport & South Line, no trains are running between Turrella and Glenfield due to flooding at Bardwell Park. A shuttle train is in operation between Turella and Central via Airport Line stations. Limited train services will operate between Glenfield and Campbelltown.
• T7 Olympic Park Line, trains are not running between Lidcombe and Olympic Park.
• South Coast Line, no trains are running between Waterfall and Dapto, between Wollongong and Port Kembla, and between Kiama and Bomaderry, due to flooding on the tracks at various locations.
• Southern Highlands Line: Trains are not running between Campbelltown and Moss Vale due to flooding at Picton.
• Hunter Line: Trains are not running between Newcastle Interchange and Maitland due to flooding on the tracks at Sandgate.
• Most other lines are affected by delays.
• Passengers who do need to travel are advised to listen to announcements and check information displays for service updates.
• L3 Kingsford Line services are not running between Moore Park and Juniors Kingsford, due to flooding due to water over tracks.
• Buses are replacing ferries between Parramatta and Rydalmere due to the weir overflowing.
• Some bus routes across the Sydney bus network are impacted due to localised flooding with local diversions in place.

Originally published as Warragamba Dam spilling over after reaching capacity from rain deluge smashing NSW east coast