Issued: 4.45pm AEDT on Wednesday 2 March 2022
The Bureau of Meteorology has upgraded its flood warning to major for the Hawkesbury and Nepean rivers with a deepening east coast low bringing heavy rain, high winds and large seas.
Communities around Menangle Bridge, Camden, Wallacia, Penrith, North Richmond, Windsor, Sackville, Lower Portland, Wisemans Ferry and Putty Road may be impacted, at a level similar to or above the catastrophic event in March 2021.
River level rises are already occurring along the Hawkesbury and Nepean rivers with major flooding likely. Based on forecast rainfall, major flooding is expected for the Hawkesbury and Nepean rivers from overnight Wednesday into Thursday impacting communities including Penrith, North Richmond and Windsor.
Rainfall rates are expected to be very intense and result in dangerous and life-threatening flash and riverine flooding for the central New South Wales Coast. With these conditions, multiple homes could be inundated by water, bridges and traffic routes are likely to be cut and significant overland flooding is expected.
Other catchments as well as the Hawkesbury and Nepean rivers will be impacted by this rain including Georges River, Shoalhaven River, Wyong and Tuggerah Lake, Morya and Deua rivers.
Communities should be prepared for flood impacts and are encouraged to keep up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings on the Bureau's website and BOM Weather app, and to follow the advice of emergency services, who have already begun issuing evacuation warnings.
