More than 1200 NSW State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers are responding to the impacts of a complex low off the east coast, which is shifting southwards and bringing intense rainfall and damaging winds to Newcastle, Sydney and the Illawarra this afternoon.
Since the start of the event the NSW SES has responded to more than 900 incidents across the state, with the majority in the Central Coast and Newcastle regions. However, calls for assistance are increasing throughout Sydney and the Illawarra this afternoon.
Conditions are expected to worsen in coming hours as widespread rainfall totals of 50-150mm are likely and isolated intense falls in excess of 200mm in a 24hour period are possible, which will cause flash flooding.
Minor to moderate flooding is possible on coastal catchments and in the Hawkesbury Nepean Valley. Riverine flooding and warnings may escalate tonight for low lying properties on the Nepean River at Camden, and Georges River.
In the Central Coast, Sydney, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and South Coast regions, damaging wind gusts could reach up to 125km/h throughout this afternoon.
In Surfside on the South Coast, NSW SES volunteers have assisted beachside properties with sandbagging efforts to protect them from coastal surge on the hightide overnight.
Coastal erosion is a concern in parts of the Central Coast. Door knocking has been undertaken and a few properties in The Entrance North may need to evacuate.
OPERATIONAL STATISTICS -
Since the start of the event
Calls to State Operations Centre: 1700
Statewide incidents: 928
By zone -
South Eastern Zone: 218
Metro Zone: 223
Northern Zone: 433
Western Zone: 9
North Eastern Zone: 27
North Western Zone: 4
Southern Zone: 6
State Units: 2
Media enquiries: NSW SES Media on 1800 067 234