NSW weather LIVE updates: Parts of Sydney evacuated due to flood ...

The powerful weather system which wreaked havoc on Sydney is moving south, prompting the Bureau of Meteorology to warn it may lead to localised damage and coastal erosion.

Areas south of Wollongong to south of Moruya Heads are expected to be impacted by late this evening before abating in the early hours of Sunday morning.

A previous dangerous surf warning for the coastline off Sydney has now been cancelled.

But further south, waves are expected to approach the shore from the east, causing east-facing beaches to be most at risk.

“Beach conditions in these areas could be dangerous and people should stay well away from the surf and surf exposed areas. Locations which may be affected include Eden, Moruya Heads and Merimbula.“

Passengers travelling on trains and buses in Sydney and the rest of the state have been advised to allow extra travel time after rail lines, roads and stations were flooded with water in the past 24 hours.

Here is the latest advice on the trains:

• T8 Airport & South Line: Shuttle trains are running between Central and Revesby and between Revesby and Macarthur in both directions. Passengers should continue to allow extra travel time as there will be longer than normal service gaps.
• T7 Olympic Park Line: Trains are not running between Lidcombe and Olympic Park. Consider alternative transport.
• South Coast Line: Trains are not running between Waterfall and Bomaderry and also between Wollongong and Port Kembla, due to flooding on the tracks at various locations. Limited replacement buses are running.
• Southern Highlands Line: Buses supplement some trains between Campbelltown and Moss Vale following flooding on the tracks.
• Hunter Line: Trains have resumed between Newcastle Interchange and Maitland after earlier flooding on the tracks at Sandgate. Buses continue to supplement some services. Allow extra travel time.
• Most other lines are affected by delays.
• Passengers are advised to listen to announcements and check information displays for service updates.​
• Buses are replacing ferries between Parramatta and Rydalmere due to the weir overflowing.

Numerous roads across Sydney and surrounds remain closed. Here is the latest update on what exactly is affected as of 4pm today from the Transport Management Centre:

In Sydney:

• Bells Line of Road is closed in both directions at Richmond Bridge due to flooding.
• Wisemans Ferry Road is closed in both directions at Cattai.
• Pitt Town Road is closed between Wolsely Road and Pitt Town-Dural Road between McGraths Hill and Pitt Town
• Springwood Road including Yarramundi Bridge is closed between Castlereagh Road and Mountain Avenue at Agnes Banks.
• Menangle Road is closed at Menangle Bridge.
• A significant number of other road closures are in place. Motorists should check their trip before they travel.

In the south:

• Lawrence Hargrave Drive is closed in both directions from Coalcliff to Clifton, including the Seacliff Bridge, due to water and debris over the road.
• Illawarra Highway is closed in both directions between Tongarra Road and the M1 at Albion Park.
• Illawarra Highway is also closed at Macquarie Pass.
• Lady Wakehurst Drive is closed due to a fallen tree near Lady Carrington Drive at Lilyvale

In the north:

• Newell Highway remains closed in both directions between Moree and Boggabilla

In the northwest:

• Newell Highway is closed east of Tooraweenah due to a crash. Motorists wanting to travel between Gilgandra and Coonabarabran are advised to use the Castlereagh Highway and Coonabarabran Road and allow plenty of extra travel time.

In the west:

• Megalong Road is closed in both directions between Shipley Road and Peach Tree Road at Blackheath.

Hundreds of people had to be saved from floodwaters across Sydney, the Illawarra and South Coast in the past 24 hours.

The NSW State Emergency Service said more than 200 mm of rain lash Sydney and the Illawarra while 4000 volunteers were out in force.

They responded to 3135 calls for help in the past 24 hours.

SES volunteers are now helping residents and business owners with the clean-up job.

NSW SES State Duty Commander assistant commissioner Dean Storey, said flooding will continue in low-lying properties along the Hawkesbury, Nepean and Colo Rivers.

“While the significant rain event has now passed and blue skies have returned, flooding is expected to occur for residents in the Hawkesbury Nepean and Colo communities as the rainfall moves into the rivers and downstream over the coming days,” Storey said.

The NSW SES currently has 13 Emergency Warnings in place requesting affected residents evacuate their properties.

Jack Greene was busy cleaning office equipment and sweeping out mud and debris after half-a-metre of water swept through his workplace in Picton, south-west of Sydney.

Greene said the water rose quickly early Saturday morning before dissipating and leaving sludge in its wake.

He said cupboards and filing cabinets, chairs, a printer and fridge were all damaged: “The computers were OK, but power sockets obviously copped a bit of damage.”

Other businesses in the town on Sydney’s south-western fringe were also cleaning up after being flooded.

Greene said the weekend would be spent cleaning and “probably then reassessing flood damage.”

“Everything is drying outside,” he said, looking at the blue sky.

“It’s a good day for cleaning.”

Across NSW, residents are still working to mop up flooded areas while emergency services are dealing with the fallout of the intense rainfall overnight.

At Stanwell Park, firefighters from the Helensburgh unit of Fire and Rescue NSW worked throughout the early morning to keep people safe.

They assisted residents at a home at Stanwell Park which was flooding just before 5am.

Just before 6am, they were called to Lawrence Hargrave Drive at Stanwell Park to close the road after the intense rain triggered a small landslide.

Some surfers on the Central Coast have made the most of a man-made surf break thanks to the opening of a lagoon.

Locals went to the MacMasters Beach lagoon on the Central Coast today after residents opened it to prevent floodwaters inundating the area. These images, captured here by Alicia Dobson show the full force of the water.

Bacteria in floodwaters can cause infections in the skin, eyes, ears and throat. Those cleaning up homes and businesses today inundated with floodwaters are advised to wear gloves and shoes.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a hazardous surf warning in place on Saturday for the Hunter Coast, Sydney Coast, Illawarra Coast, Batemans Coast and Eden Coast.

On Sunday, hazardous surf conditions are expected to continue for the Batemans Coast and Eden Coast.

A family became marooned in their car this morning on as fast rising floodwaters on the Hawkesbury River ensnared them.

The farm, on Cornwallis Road near Richmond just north-west of Sydney, was inundated by steadily rising waters after Warragamba Dam spilled due to heavy rainfall overnight.

They were rescued by their own family members who bought down a tractor and tow-line from Mosses street Windsor. Turf farmers and Chinese market gardeners in the area are forced to evacuate their farming equipment in times of flood events.