Two flood rescues have been conducted overnight as the South Coast continues to get "smashed" by a low pressure weather system.
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SES volunteers rescued two people from a car trapped in floodwaters south of Nowra overnight, and crews are at a separate flood rescue at a home in St Georges Basin.
"The house is being inundated by flood waters," a SES spokeswoman said.
"The South Coast is getting smashed. St Georges Basin has seem significant flash flooding in the early hours of this morning [Wednesday]."
Significant rainfall has been recorded in the 24 hours to 6.30am today (Wednesday), including:
- Jervis Bay 210.6mm
- Ulladulla 191.0mm
- Point Perpendicular 171.4mm
- Kiama 91.6mm
- Albion Park 61.6mm
- Moruya 53.6mm
- Bellambi 37.6mm
- Merimbula 35.8
- Bega 21.8mm
Lake Conjola is sitting at 1.6 metres and crews are closely monitoring low-lying flooding.
Overnight, SES crews received more than 140 emergency calls for help across the South Coast.
Numerous weather warnings are in place from Illawarra south to the border for heavy, locally intense rain and damaging winds.
Gale force wind warnings are in place for the Illawarra, Batemans and Eden coastlines.
Today (Wednesday) heavy rainfall may lead to flash flooding is currently affecting northern parts of the South Coast and Illawarra, and is expected to spread to southern parts of the South Coast this morning.
Six-hourly rainfall totals of 60 to 120mm are likely, with isolated intense falls of up to 160mm possible. 24-hourly totals of 100 to 150mm are likely.
Rainfall is in excess of 250mm is possible in areas, particularly for parts of the South Coast south of Moruya.
Damaging winds up to 70km/h, with peak gusts of 90km/h are possible on the coast near Moruya Heads from late this morning.
The SES is urging people not to drive through flood waters.
"You really do not know what's under that water, even though it's a road you may have crossed earlier in the day," SES Chief Superintendent Dallas Burnes said.
Flood watch alerts
Flood watch alerts are current for parts of the Illawarra, South Coast rivers, inland Central West rivers and South West rivers.
"The weather system is expected to cause flooding for the catchments listed from Wednesday," the Bureau of Meteorology said.
All NSW catchments likely to be affected include:
- Illawarra coast
- St Georges Basin minor flooding
- Clyde River
- Moruya and Deua Rivers minor flooding
- Tuross River
- Bega River minor to moderate flooding
- Peel River minor flooding
- Namoi River minor flooding
- Castlereagh River minor flooding
- Macquarie River to Bathurst minor flooding
- Orange, Molong and Bell River minor flooding
- Turon and Macquarie Rivers to Burrendong Dam
- Macquarie River d/s Burrendong Dam minor flooding
- Bogan River minor flooding
- Tumut River minor flooding
- Upper Murrumbidgee River to Burrinjuck Dam and Cooma Ckminor flooding
- Murrumbidgee River to Wagga Wagga minor flooding
- Mirrool Creek minor flooding
- Queanbeyan and Molonglo Rivers minor flooding
- Snowy River minor flooding
- Upper Murray and Mitta Mitta Rivers minor flooding (for the Mitta Mitta Rivers)
Extreme weather safety tips
- Keep clear of creeks and storm drains
- Don't walk, ride your bike or drive through flood water
- If you are trapped by flash flooding, seek refuge in the highest available place and ring 000 if you need rescue
- Unplug computers and appliances
- Avoid using the phone during the storm
- Stay indoors away from windows, and keep children and pets indoors as well.