A person became trapped inside their vehicle in floodwaters in Merriwa in the Hunter region this morning as rivers rose after being inundated with rain.
Merriwa Rescue crews were joined by NSW Police and Ambulance to save the person, sparking another warning for residents not to cross swollen rivers, or enter flood water.
Merriwa Rescue Squad said this was the second rescue this morning.
“Merriwa VRA Rescue Squad are asking everyone to stay safe and dry.”
NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) also carried out a rescue in Forbes yesterday when a motorist was cut off by floodwaters.
She was driving down the Lachlan Valley Way when floodwaters cut off her access and she was unable to turn around.
The NSW RFS helicopter happened to be flying around the area and was able to land and safely relocate the woman.
“It’s important to note that some roads maybe cut off with little warning.”
“So even if there are no warning signs or road closed signs never drive through flood waters,” NSW RFS said.
Floods have also impacted Tamworth in the NSW north-east amid heavy rainfall.
Some residents were unable to go into work as Calala Lane was filled with flood waters, cutting off their route.
The road has since reopened.
Some students sitting their HSC in Tamworth have also had to relocate.
Tamworth High School and Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School advised their HSC students to attend different schools to sit their exams, and advised all other students to remain at home or report to their closest public school.
More rain and storm warnings are in place for the mid-north NSW coast and the Hunter region which are already experiencing flooding.
Moderate flood warnings are in place for the Castlereagh River at Mendooran and the Peel River in Tamworth.
The Central West which has already been battered by flooding has an upgraded major flood warning for the Lachlan River at Jemalong.
A moderate flood warning has been issued for Kingdon Ponds in the Scone area where minor flooding has already begun that is expected to intensify.
Multiple minor flood warnings have been issued for inland rivers in the north-west and central west.
A Hazardous Surf Warning has been issued for the Macquarie and Hunter Coasts.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said another trough is expected to cross the state on Wednesday and Thursday this week, bringing more severe weather.
“Renewed flooding is possible in the inland rivers where there are minor to major flood warnings current,” the BoM said.
Severe thunderstorms with heavy rain are currently moving through south-east Queensland.
Weatherzone said the storms will likely hit central Queensland this afternoon bringing intense rainfall.
The BoM issued a severe thunderstorm warning for heavy rainfall for parts of Darling Downs and Granite Belt and Southeast Coast Forecast Districts.
The thunderstorm is very dangerous, the BoM said.
There is also a chance the storms will bring hail and severe winds.
A total of 72mm of rain was recorded Ma Ma Creek in just one hour and 23.6 mm fell in Brisbane between 6am and 9am.
A supercell thunderstorm is expected to hit the Capricornia coast and cities like Gladstone and Rockhampton later today, Weatherzone said.
The storm cell is expected to bring wet weather all week.
A warning of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms early Monday morning was issued for central southern parts of WA.
Some areas have recorded 162mm of rain over the weekend, with warnings of flash flooding.
Thunderstorms will be confined to western parts of the Northern Territory today, the BoM said.
More widespread storms are expected in the south of the territory tomorrow.
Victoria is set to see a sunnier start to the week with Melbourne set to reach 21C.
Although minor flood warnings are in place for the Latrobe River and Thomson River.
How residents of NSW town are preparing for major flooding
Tasmania will escape most of the wet weather, with only a partly cloudy day and temperatures of 19C, according to the BoM.
