Residents on Sydney’s north-west fringes are on flood alert as torrents from Warragamba Dam swell the Hawkesbury-Nepean River.
The drum gates holding back Sydney’s drinking supply were opened on Friday night, after reaching full capacity for the first time in 14 years.
As the gushing torrents make their way downstream, the State Emergency Service (SES) is anticipating a flood evacuation order for people living at Gronos Point, Pitt Town Bottoms and parts of Richmond Lowlands.
But it promises to give residents plenty of time to prepare.
“With the estimated time of impact being several hours away from when the evacuation order will be issued, residents will be given adequate time to prepare their homes and leave the area,” the SES said in an alert.
The Yarramundi, North Richmond and Windsor bridges across the Hawkesbury are expected to close on Saturday morning, the NSW Transport Management Centre says.
Across the state, SES crews have been particularly busy in southern NSW, with rescues carried out in Tumut, Queanbeyan and Goulburn.
SES emergency commissioner Murray Kear is expecting rain records stretching back to 1886 to be broken, as water covers three-quarters of NSW.