The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) is continuing to respond to the impacts of heavy rain and damaging winds across the state, with riverine rises and flash flooding occurring in Northern, Western and Mid North Coast regions.
Volunteers have responded to more than 580 incidents, including 16 flood rescues, across the state as a result of heavy rain and wind gusts in excess of 80 kilometers per hour.
A number of warnings have been issued for minor to moderate flooding on several catchments across the state, and a number of communities could become isolated due to flooding, particularly in the Thora and Georges Creek on the Mid North Coast and at Wanaaring in Western NSW.
In Narrabri, flash flooding impacted 30 properties on Saturday afternoon and an evacuation centre was opened. Overnight, the Peel River in Tamworth reached moderate flood levels and NSW SES members completed two flood rescues for vehicles in floodwaters. All persons were safe, and the flooding has receded.
NSW SES crews also responded to an incident at Bretti, west of Taree, shortly before 10pm on Saturday, to reports a man driving an SUV towing a caravan was swept into floodwaters while trying to cross a causeway.
A further 22 people were safe but unable to leave the campground which was surrounded by floodwaters. The search for the missing man is ongoing, with assistance from NSW Police and the NSW Rural Fire Service.
NSW SES Assistant Commissioner Sean Kearns said while the rain was easing across the state on Sunday, damaging wind gusts were expected to impact the coast from Bega to Newcastle.
“People along the coastal fringe should secure any loose items so they don’t become projectiles in the wind, which could reach in excess of 90 kilometres per hour throughout Sunday,” he said.
Assistant Commissioner Kearns said renewed riverine flooding was possible if more rainfall was forecast across the state.
“We know catchments are already wet across many areas, particularly in the northeast of the state, and we are monitoring forecast rain for the rest of this week,” he said.
“I encourage the community to monitor the Bureau of Meteorology and the Hazards Near Me app for the latest warnings and information.”
Assistant Commissioner Kearns said riverine rises would also continue in Western NSW as water from Queensland continued to flow downstream.
“A number of communities in Western NSW could be isolated for some time, including Wanaaring and Wee Waa,” he said.
Recent rainfall totals include:
- 210mm was recorded at Currarong (South Coast) in 24 hours to 9am Sunday.
- 109mm was recorded at Foxground in 24 hours to 9am Sunday.
- 95mm was recorded at Greenwell Point in 24 hours to 9am Sunday.
- 90mm was recorded in Dorrigo in 24 hours to 9am Sunday.
- 72mm was recorded at Ulladulla in 24 hours to 9am Sunday.
- 68mm was recorded at Clarrie Hall Dam (Tweed) in 24 hours to 9am Sunday.
OPERATIONAL STATISTICS:
24 hours to 10.30am:
Statewide incidents - 454
- Western - 11
- Northern - 95
- North Western - 99
- North Eastern - 34
- Metro - 89
- South Eastern - 122
- Southern – 1
- State Headquarters - 3
Media enquiries: NSW SES Media - 1800 067 234
Photo: NSW SES Casino Unit doing medical resupply to isolated resident on 29 March 2025