Heavy rain sparks flood fears across New South Wales coast

Millions in New South Wales were warned of potential flooding on Wednesday, as a powerful weather system dumped heavy rain along nearly 1,000 km of the state's coast.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said the deluge, driven by a combination of three weather systems, could see rainfall totals peaking at 75 mm on Wednesday night, up to 120 mm on Thursday, and 60 mm on Friday. The warning covers a vast stretch of New South Wales (NSW), including the city of Sydney.

At a press briefing, NSW State Emergency Service Deputy Commissioner Debbie Platz said recent weather conditions have primed catchments for flooding.

“Some communities that have already been impacted by earlier heavy rains could see flooding overnight,” Platz said, warning that fatigue and complacency could increase risks.

“This year we have seen significant weather events, significant flooding and a lot of damage. We know the community is tired and volunteers are tired,” she added.

The state's north has already endured severe flooding in May, which left five people dead and thousands of homes damaged. Those areas, according to authorities, remain especially vulnerable.

Steve Bernasconi, the BoM’s hazard preparedness manager, said the rainfall might not meet the official threshold for a severe weather warning. However, water catchments still at capacity could result in isolated major flooding.

Emergency services are urging residents to monitor weather alerts and avoid floodwaters. "Even if this doesn’t trigger a severe warning on paper, it doesn’t mean there’s no danger," Bernasconi said.

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