400km severe weather event creates chaos

Suburbs across Sydney are set for a 100 per cent chance of rain on Saturday, which comes after the city broke its all-time yearly rainfall record of 2194mm earlier this week.

A severe weather warning for damaging winds and heavy rainfall has been issued for the Hunter, Illawarra, Central Tablelands and south coast districts.

The low pressure centre is expected to deepen on Saturday and cross the coast before rapidly moving offshore by late Sunday.

Heavy rainfall, which may lead to flash flooding and landslides, has been forecast from Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning.

Six-hour rainfall totals between 30 to 50mm are likely, with isolated falls of around 80mm possible.

In addition, damaging winds of 60 to 70 km/h are expected, while peak 90 km/h gusts may develop along parts of the coast.

NSW SES has issued 62 flood warnings across the state. Nineteen are to “watch and act”, the rest are to monitor the conditions.

Major flooding is possible for the Gwydir, Namoi, Macquarie, Belubula, Lachlan and Bogan rivers and Mandagery Creek over the weekend.

Areas around Greater Sydney may also experience minor to moderate flooding from Saturday.

The extreme conditions have made it hard for competitors and attendees at the Bathurst 1000 after 11 cars crashed on Friday.

The SES has warned those at Mount Panorama to avoid floodwaters and to consider where they are camping, with up to 100mm of rain expected over the weekend.

Further down south in Victoria, Melbourne residents are still recovering from a monster rain burst that fell over parts of the city on Friday.

Some suburbs recorded as much as 30mm in the space of just 20 minutes in the middle of the day, while two cars became stuck under the York Street bridge due to floodwaters.

In total, Melbourne experienced half of its average rainfall for October in an hour on Friday.

In the city’s north, Mickleham Rd at Craigieburn is still closed between Mt Ridley Rd and Destination Dr.

It is over are fears a private dam may burst and release huge amounts of water in the surrounding area if it gives way.

The SES and authorities will continue to monitor the situation throughout Saturday.

Across the state, Victoria SES has issued 41 flood warnings. Five are to “watch and act”, the rest are to monitor the conditions.

Minor to moderate flood warnings have been issued at various river catchments across the state, though a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Gippsland was cancelled on Friday afternoon.