Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 12:34 pm EST on Thursday 22 May 2025

Flood Watch Number: 7

MINOR TO MAJOR FLOODING OCCURRING IN PARTS OF THE NORTHERN RIVERS, MID NORTH COAST, HUNTER AND CENTRAL COAST CATCHMENTS

FURTHER MINOR FLOODING POSSIBLE FROM CENTRAL COAST TO SOUTH COAST NSW

A coastal trough along the NSW coast is bringing widespread moderate to heavy rainfall with isolated thunderstorms along northern and central parts of the coast and ranges, mainly affecting the Mid North Coast, Hunter and Blue Mountains regions. This has caused minor to major flooding from the southern parts of the Northern Rivers through to the Central Coast catchments.

Rainfall will extend further southwards during the remainder of Thursday into Friday, extending the Flood Watch area further south. Rainfall will ease in the northern parts of the coast from Friday, and clear most of the state by the weekend. Minor flooding is possible in parts of the Central and South Coast from Friday with the movement of the trough.

Catchments in the Flood Watch area are relatively wet.

Localised river level rises, and flash flooding are possible within the areas of heaviest rainfall.

Flood Classes (minor, moderate, major) are only defined for catchments where the Bureau provides a flood warning service.

A Severe Weather Warning is current for Mid North Coast and parts of Hunter, Metro, Illawarra, Central Tablelands, Northern Tablelands and Southern Tablelands Districts.

Catchments likely to be affected include:

Newcastle Area

Lake Macquarieminor flooding

Cooks Riverminor flooding

Georges and Woronora Riversminor flooding

Illawarra Coast

Shoalhaven Riverminor flooding

St Georges Basinminor flooding

Clyde Riverminor flooding

Moruya and Deua Riversminor flooding

Tuross River

Bega Riverminor flooding

Towamba River

Minor to major flood warnings are current in the following catchments: Northern Rivers (Orara), Mid North Coast (Coffs Coast, Bellinger, Nambucca, Macleay, Hastings, Camden Haven, Manning and Gloucester, Myall, Wallis Lake) Hunter and Central Coast (Hunter and Wollombi Brook, Paterson and Williams, Tuggerah Lake), Sydney catchments (Hawkesbury Nepean).

For the latest flood and weather warnings see www.bom.gov.au/nsw/warnings/

For the latest rainfall and weather forecasts see www.bom.gov.au/australia/meteye/

For the latest rainfall and river level information see www.bom.gov.au/nsw/flood

Flood Safety Advice:
This Flood Watch means that people living or working along rivers and streams must monitor the latest weather forecasts and warnings and be ready to move to higher ground should flooding develop.

Flood Warnings will be issued if Minor Flood Level is expected to be exceeded at key sites along the main rivers for which the Bureau of Meteorology provides a flood warning service.

Severe Weather Warnings will be issued or updated if very heavy rain is forecast or observed.

For more information on the Flood Watch Service: http://www.bom.gov.au/water/floods/floodWarningServices.shtml

FloodSafe advice is available at www.ses.nsw.gov.au

For emergency assistance call the SES on telephone number 132 500

For life threatening emergencies, call 000 immediately

Rainfall and River Conditions Map