But 27 severe weather warnings remained in place throughout the state on Saturday morning, with 20 related to flooding.
The bureau has predicted that moderate flood risks for the Hawkesbury, Nepean and Colo rivers may rise to major risk levels.
More than a month’s worth of rain fell over Sydney, Port Macquarie and Taree on Friday, delaying trains, cutting power and leading to evacuation alerts.
WaterNSW announced that Warragamba Dam, which supplies much of Sydney’s drinking water, had started to spill at 5.45am on Saturday after reaching capacity. The dam was predicted on Thursday to reach capacity at some point “over the weekend”.
Up to 150 millimetres of rainfall remained possible within a six-hour period for areas stretching from the Blue Mountains hundreds of kilometres to Narooma.
Residents of Nowra, Batemans Bay, Goulburn and Cabramurra have been told to stay indoors due to damaging winds and heavy to intense rainfall.
Locals play in the surf at Narrabeen.Credit: Nikki Short
The rain poses a risk of flash flooding for the South Coast.
“Six-hourly rainfall totals between 50 and 90mm are likely, reaching up to 130mm over the Illawarra escarpment,” the NSW SES said in its latest alert.
Wollongong recorded 230mm of rainfall in the 24 hours to 6.19am on Saturday, the NSW SES said. High Range in the Southern Highlands recorded 190mm of rainfall in the 24 hours to 7.11am.
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Surfers and other beachgoers have been warned to stay “well away from the surf and surf-exposed areas” due to dangerous conditions, particularly at east-facing beaches.
Scores of community sports teams had their winter seasons delayed, with flooded grounds from Wollondilly to the northern beaches closed all weekend.
with AAP
Source Agencies
