Despite a brief patch of sun on Friday morning, more than 50,000 people are still stranded across the state due to rising flood waters.

A slow-moving trough delivering intense rain has brought heavy falls to parts of the Hunter, Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands, extending further south throughout 23 May.

Several thoroughfares within the region have been overrun by flood waters, leaving hundreds of locals isolated and in need of assistance.

Road closures are currently in place across the Hunter, including Gillieston Heights, East Maitland, Shortland, Raymond Terrace, Kooragang, Williamtown, Tomago, Salt Ash, Warners Bay, Waratah West and Anna Bay.

The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has received thousands of calls from residents, as well as several rescues from flood waters.

On the Mid-North Coast, more than 501mm of rain drenched Taree, about 388mm at Port Macquarie and more than 350mm at Kempsey since Tuesday.

NSW Police reported the deaths of four people across the state, too, one at Rosewood near Port Macquarie, one in Dorrigo (west of Coffs Harbour), one at Nana Glen (north of Coffs Harbour), and one at Moto (north of Taree).

At least another two have been reported missing: a 49-year-old man at Nymboida and 51-year-old man in Bellingen.

Heavy rain is expected to continue throughout Newcastle, the Hunter, and the Central Coast, with showers predicted to move further south as the day progresses.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) also announced cold and windy conditions next week could potentially wreak more havoc, with trees expected to be at high risk of falling due to the damp ground.

Current road closures in the Hunter are:

Gillieston Heights: Main Road between William Tester Drive and Redwood Drive

East Maitland Melbourne Street between Day Street and Cumberland Street

Shortland: Sandgate Road between Pacific Highway (Maitland Road) and Newcastle Inner City Bypass

Raymond Terrace: Seaham Road between Newline Road and Raymond Terrace Road

Kooragang: Tourle Street between Industrial Drive and Minyan Way

Williamtown: Nelson Bay Road between Richardson Road and Medowie Road, and Cabbage Tree Road near Nelson Bay Road

Tomago: Pacific Highway just past Hexham Bridge, and Tomago Road near Graham Drive

Salt Ash: Nelson Bay Road near Lemon Tree Passage Road, and Nelson Bay Road near Marsh Road

Warners Bay: King Street near Myles Avenue

Waratah West: Lorna Street at Queen Street

Anna Bay: Nelson Bay Road near Frost Road

WHAT HAS CAUSED THE FLOODING?

• A low-pressure system over the Mid-North-Coast has dumped months of rain over a few days
• Catchments were already saturated, with year-to-date totals before this week already topping 1000mm in Port Macquarie and 690mm in Taree
• Taree’s Manning River is falling after reaching a record height of 6.45m, while the levee has been overtopped in Kempsey, population 30,000

WHICH COMMUNITIES ARE IMPACTED?

• Emergency warnings are active in 40 areas including Croki, Macksville, Dungog, Kempsey, Port Macquarie, Nambucca, Taree, Wingham, Bowraville and Gloucester
• 50,000 people are isolated due to floodwaters
• Disaster assistance has been activated in 19 Local Government Areas (LGAs)
• A watch and act warning has been issued to Gronos Point in Sydney’s northwest
• Advice warnings have been issued in some areas around the Nepean River and South Sydney

WHAT SERVICES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED?

• Several town centres are underwater
• 5,700 households and businesses without power
• 181 schools are not operating or under minimal supervision, along with 102 childcare centres
• Scores of livestock have been washed down rivers, with survivors ending up on beaches and in town centres
• Evacuation centres have been set up at Bellingen, Dungog, Gloucester, Taree, Manning Point, Wingham, Bulahdelah, Tuncurry Beach, Kempsey, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Nambucca, Old Bar, Wauchope and Coopernook

WHAT’S NEXT?

• Moderate rainfall is expected on the Mid-North Coast as the system moves south
• Sydney’s Nepean Dam is currently spilling and the Warragamba Dam is expected to spill sometime on Friday or Saturday
• Between 60mm and 100mm of rain is forecast over the Sydney and Blue Mountains region in next 24 hours
• Heavy rain is expected in Newcastle, Central Coast, Southern Tablelands, Snowy Mountains, Illawarra and South Coast on Friday
• Rain is expected to move south and shift off the South Coast on Saturday morning
• Cold and windy conditions next week could bring more havoc, felling trees in wet ground

Sources: Bureau of Meteorology, SES NSW

For more news stories:

• Hunter Workers protest ‘attack’ on injured employees’ support
• Volunteers are the beating heart behind Sleapy’s Foundation
• Communities urged to remain on high alert as flood emergency continues

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