Flood watchRainfall levelsWarragamba Dam levels
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News from the regions affected by the floodsGoulburnCowraBathurstOrangeAlbury WodongaBendigo
Warragamba Dam, Sydney's primary water source, is expected to spill today or tomorrow.
The dam is at 99.4 per cent capacity and has about 163,000 litres of water entering it each day, the Sydney Catchment Authority said in its 2pm report today.
"It's 0.8 of a metre below being full," Ian Tanner from the catchment authority told Macquarie Radio this morning.
Rainband shifts north
But relief is set to come to regions in southern NSW today, as the slow-moving rainband shifts northwards towards the central ranges, the central west slopes and plains and the upper western, Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Julie Evans said.
These districts, including Dubbo, Parkes and Tibooburra, were expected to receive between 30 and 60 millimetres of rain today, she said.
In Sydney, rainfall of about 15 to 25 millimetres was expected today, Ms Evans said.
Evacuations and flood warnings
About 1660 people from Cooma, Bega, Goulburn and Cowra in the central west and southern regions were ordered to leave their properties yesterday, State Emergency Service (SES) spokeswoman Erin Pogmore said.
Evacuation warnings were issued for Richmond Lowlands, Pitt Town and Gronos Point, Queanbeyan, north of Brewarrina and Goodooga. There were 16 other flood warnings.
The SES responded to 99 calls for assistance overnight from the Illawarra and south coast, southern highlands and Murrumbidgee area, Ms Pogmore said.
There were 22 flood rescues at Goobragandra Road in Tumut. Animals and people were evacuated as water levels rose due to the flooding on the Goobragandra River.
Focus on Bathurst
Ms Pogmore said the SES would be focusing on Bathurst today as significant rainfall was expected in the area.
''We predict that we will receive calls from 9pm tonight,'' she added.
The Great Western Highway from Kelso to Bathurst was reopened after earlier closures in both directions due to the rising water levels. But the highway is set to closed again this afternoon, the NSW Transport Management Centre said. Motorists were advised to avoid all non-essential travel, to be careful in flooded areas and to not drive through floods.
Eloise Wilkinson said she had just made it back to Sydney after the early closures. "Traffic is banked up right past the welcome to Bathurst. So bad," she said.
Katie Scrutton said she was making plans to "set up camp" at the top Mount Panorama if she remained trapped in Bathurst.
Moderate to major flooding was expected at the Macquarie River, which passes through Bathurst, the bureau said.
Ms Evans warned that, while rainfall in the southern regions eased today, there was a possibility that the rain band, with embedded thunderstorms, would move back south tomorrow.
''Over the next three days, there could be up to 50 millimetres of rain falling in the catchment area.''
Warragamba Dam
When the Warragamba Dam is 80 millimetres above its full storage level, the drum gate will open automatically.
If the water keeps rising, the four radial gates open at 23 centimetres above full storage level. The progressive gates would help to control the flow of water, the Sydney Catchment Authority said on its website.
The released water would join tributaries that feed into the Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers, raising water levels at Windsor and North Richmond.
The Hawkesbury bridges remain open at this stage, the Hawkesbury Gazette reported.
Accidents
Paramedics say they are alarmed by the number of car accidents across NSW.
From midnight to 9.30am today, paramedics were called out to 39 car-related incidents, including 18 in Sydney and 12 in southern NSW.
"Paramedics have been kept busy all morning treating and transporting people injured in motor vehicle-related incidents," the Ambulance Service of NSW said in a statement.
"The number of motor vehicle crashes ambulance paramedics attended this morning is alarming."
Heavy rain is hampering driver visibility while the roads are slippery and dangerous.
"People need to slow down and be more careful in this wet weather," the statement said.
Contact numbers
Public Information and Inquiry Centre - 1800 227 228.
NSW State Emergency Service on 132 500 or www.ses.nsw.gov.au
Disaster Welfare Assistance Line on 1800 018 444.
Rail services - www.131500.com.au or www.countrylink.info
Emergency NSW at www.emergency.nsw.gov.au.
Road closures - www.rta.nsw.gov.au or www.livetraffic.com or contact local councils.
Health Information during floods and clean up is available on the NSW Health website at: http://www.emergency.health.nsw.gov.au/floods/index.asp
For all other emergencies, the public is advised to phone triple-0.
with Amy McNeilage
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