Evacuations in NSW as Hawkesbury and Nepean Rivers face flood warning in Australia’s weather forecast

Residents of Sydney’s outskirts are facing evacuation orders as flood waters continue to rise due to days of heavy rainfall. Emergency warnings were issued overnight, with evacuations ordered for several places along the Hawkesbury River.

These places include parts of Agnes Banks, Cornwallis, the eastern part of Richmond Lowlands, Pitt Town Bottoms, the northern part of Pitt Town (around Percy’s Place Caravan Park), parts of Cattai, Sackville, Cumberland Reach, and all the way to Lower Portland.

The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has reported 44 warnings currently in place, performing 13 flood rescues so far as 297 incidents occurred overnight to Saturday morning. Prior to the rainfall, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) had issued flood warnings for both the Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers.

Other areas with flood warnings include the Cooks River, Georges and Woronora Rivers, Shoalhaven River, and St Georges Basin. The BOM states, “Major flooding is possible along the Hawkesbury River at North Richmond and moderate flooding is occurring at Windsor. Minor flooding is peaking along the Nepean River at Penrith and possible along the Hawkesbury River at Sackville.”

However, the BOM has forecasted “no further significant rainfall” over the next couple of days. While river levels are falling in some areas, places such as the Nepean River at Yarramundi, Grose River at Burralow, and the Hawkesbury River at Windsor are still rising. This follows as water from the Warragamba Dam spilled over into the Hawkesbury and Nepean Rivers.

Newswire has reached out to the SES for comment.

In New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, along with multiple minor and moderate flood warnings in places across the Hawkesbury and Nepean Rivers, the BOM has issued a gale warning for Batemans Coast. There are also strong wind warnings for the Hunter Coast, Sydney Coast, Illawarra Coast, and Eden Coast.

In Sydney, it’s expected to be partly cloudy with a slight chance of more showers and a maximum temperature of 21 on Saturday. In Canberra, it’s expected to be partly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and a maximum temperature of 17.

Frost warnings have been issued for the Mid North and Riverland districts in South Australia, with frost temperatures reaching minus one degree. It’s forecasted to be slightly cloudy in the Adelaide area, with slight chances of drizzle and a maximum temperature of 16.

Strong wind warnings have been issued along the East Gippsland Coast in Victoria and are expected to continue into Sunday. In Melbourne, it’s expected to be a cloudy day, with chances of morning fog rolling in and showers in the evening, with a maximum temperature of 15.