On Tuesday, heavy downpours continued to pound Australia's east coast, escalating the flood catastrophe in Sydney as thousands more residents were asked to evacuate their homes as waters surged beyond danger levels.
Premier of New South Wales Dominic Perrottet told reporters, "This event is far from over. Please drive with caution on our roadways, wherever you may be. There remain significant threats for flash flooding."
Approximately 50,000 individuals in New South Wales, the majority in Sydney's western suburbs, have been ordered to leave or warned that they may receive evacuation orders, up from 30,000 on Monday, according to authorities.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who returned to Australia on Tuesday following a week-long trip to Europe, announced that he and Perrottet would tour the affected areas on Wednesday.
The federal government has designated the flooding a natural disaster, allowing residents affected by the flooding to receive emergency funding assistance.
As the coastal trough travels north, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) predicts that the last wild storm cell, which dropped a year's worth of rain in three days to some locations, will subside in Sydney on Tuesday.
However, the risk of flooding might persist throughout the week, as most river catchments were already close to capacity before the most recent deluge.
Some locations have gotten 800mm (31.5 inches) of rain since Saturday, surpassing Australia's yearly normal of approximately 500mm (20.75 inches) (20 inches).
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) forecasts that the state's mid-north coast could receive up to 125mm (five inches) of precipitation over the course of six hours on Tuesday, with some locations receiving as much as 90mm (3.5 inches).
In numerous flood-affected areas, winds of up to 90 kilometers per hour (56 miles per hour) are expected to increase the risk of downed trees and power lines.
Tuesday, amid heavy seas, rescue personnel continued their efforts to tow a bulk carrier ship that lost power off the coast of Sydney after tow lines snapped due to severe weather, according to officials.
The meteorological agency said, Sydney's third and most significant flood this year is occuring in the western suburb of Windsor.
Social media footage depicted swamped roads and bridges, as rescue workers rescued people from partially submerged automobiles that became stranded amid rising floodwaters.
Nigel Myron, a resident of Windsor, stated that he has an inflatable boat ready in case he needs to escape, however he plans to return to his home after the floodwaters pass.
