Flash flooding threatens Sydney

Flash flooding is threatening to hit areas of Sydney with two rivers in the city’s north west breaking their banks this afternoon, turning roads into fast moving waterways.

The Colo River at Putty road and the Macdonald River in the Hunter region are at “minor flood” level with around 300 people “isolated in those areas”, a statement from NSW State Emergency Services Sydney Western Region said.

“We still have heavy rain impacting Sydney but are hoping it will begin to ease as the day goes on,” the statement said.

“We have had over 290 jobs across Western Sydney and are still experiencing flash flooding across some parts of Sydney’s west including Riverstone and Schofields.

“The Colo and Macdonald Rivers are currently at a minor flood level.”

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning at 10.55am (AEDT) for the Mid North Coast and Hunter region, including the Central Coast and Newcastle, which copped about 300mm of rain over the past 24 hours.

A spokeswoman for the SES told Fairfax Media that residents in Sydney and the Hunter region should “restrict themselves to essential travel” during the torrential rain.

Weather forecasters are warning of more heavy downpours, while a search is underway for a man who fell overboard from a yacht north of Newcastle, the ABC reports.

Emergency crews have already been inundated with more than 1400 requests for help, including 700 calls across the Hunter region.

An evacuation order has been issued for 30 properties in Raymond Terrace, in the Hunter region, on Hunter St, Glenelg St, Swan St, Port Stephens St, King St and Kangaroo St.

An earlier evacuation order was issued for Dungog, Wallsend and Bulga earlier today, and flash flooding has occurred at Dungog due to water levels of the Williams River, which peaked at a height of 8.05m this morning.