NSW weather LIVE updates: Huge rain bomb breaks 100-year-old record as floods inundate towns and residents prepare to evacuate – and more pain is coming

Intense rainfall and major flooding have hit Australia’s most populous state, with a major river rising to the highest level in almost 100 years.

Heavy falls are occurring around the NSW Mid North Coast and will continue on Wednesday as a coastal trough slowly tracks north.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned heavy rainfall may cause life-threatening flash flooding.

Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Taree, Kempsey, Sawtell, Dorrigo, Barrington Tops, Wingham and Yarrowitch are in line for more rain as rivers continue to rise.

Locals around the Manning River were warned to evacuate on Tuesday evening as the river surged past major flooding levels.

By Wednesday morning, the river was flooding at a level ‘never seen before’ at Taree, surpassing the 1929 record of six metres, the NSW State Emergency Service said.

In the past 24 hours, the SES responded to 892 incidents, including 130 flood rescues, the bulk of which were in Taree, Wingham and Glenthorne.

The rescues included several cars caught driving into flood water, and as the night progressed, many people reported rising waters flooding into their homes, with some needing to seek refuge on their roofs, the SES said.

‘Unfortunately, we’ve had a large number of calls for help in areas that were subject to evacuation warnings and we are still assessing how best to access those locations,’ state duty commander assistant commissioner Colin Malone said on Wednesday.

Six-hourly rainfall totals between 100 and 140mm are possible through the day, the SES warned.

With several towns and areas under evacuation orders, the following evacuation centres have been set up:

• Wingham RSL club, 28-38 Bent Street
• Club Taree, 121 Wingham Road
• Buladelah Golf Club on Recovery Rd
• Club Gloucester, 32 Denison Street
• Dungog Memorial RSL Club, 94-96 Lord Street
• Manning Point Bowling Club, 20/22 Manning Street

There are currently 88 NSW public schools non-operational and 19 independent schools are non-operational.

The bulk of the closed schools are in the Mid North Coast and Hunter regions.

A new warning has been issued for residents of Redbank and Raymond Terrace to evacuate now.

Residents of Oxley Island, Mitchells Island and Manning Point are being told to shelter.

Parts of Coopernook are being told to move to higher ground.

Residents of Boronia Street, Sawtell should prepare to evacuate.

There are currently 12 emergency-level warnings still in place across the New South Wales Hunter and Mid North Coast regions.

A cow is seen stranded in floodwaters in Taree

NSW SES responded to more than 1,000 incidents, including over 150 flood rescues, in the 24 hours to 9am.

There are currently 83 warnings active in NSW with multiple communities now isolated.

‘NSW SES has had numerous requests for flood rescue in Wingham, Taree, Coffs Harbour and surrounds, and are prioritising people who are isolated and trapped within their homes,’ it said.

‘Overnight, weather and river conditions did not allow for emergency services to access some areas, however we are currently working to access these areas.

‘Rescues are underway in many areas where it safe to do so.’

Helicopters, boats and rescue personnel are all on the scene attempting to help stranded flood victims.

‘Ensure you call Triple Zero (000) to ensure we are aware you require rescue and your personal circumstances,’ the SES said.

‘You should remain in the highest part of your home, however DO NOT get in your roof cavity as you may become trapped.’

Frightened residents in Taree spotted a rescue helicopter over a flooded home on Wednesday morning.

‘Send your prayers for these people,’ one local wrote alongside images of the operation.

In the last 24 hours, NSW SES have responded to 892 incidents, including 130 flood rescues, with the bulk of these in the Taree, Wingham and Glenthorne areas.

In one of the more significant incidents overnight, 24 people were rescued from the flooded Pacific Highway at Ghini Ghini.

NSW SES has also been responding to major flooding on the Hastings River, Gloucester River, Williams River and Paterson River.

Severe weather is expected to continue during Wednesday, with prolonged moderate to heavy rainfall from the Mid North Coast, through to Grafton.

Locally intense rainfall may also lead to dangerous life-threatening flash flooding during Wednesday morning for elevated inland parts of the Mid North Coast district.

Six-hourly rainfall totals between 100 and 140 mm are possible.

24-hourly rainfall totals between 150 and 200 mm are possible.

The SES warned residents in Taree, Wingham and Glenthorne may be isolated by floodwaters for several hours. In some locations people have been urged to move to higher ground, as rising floodwater and treacherous conditions are making rescues difficult to undertake.

Emergency Warnings are in place advising residents to evacuate immediately at Manning Point. Meanwhile, it is too late to leave for residents in parts of Wingham, Taree and Dumaresq Island.

Emergency Warnings are in place advising people to evacuate for Coopernook, Bulahdelah, Gloucester Caravan Park, Ferndale Caravan Park, parts of Paterson and parts of Dungog.

NSW SES State Duty Commander, Assistant Commissioner Colin Malone said emergency service partners along with the SES were responding to rescue requests as quickly as possible.

‘Through the night, teams have undertaken a significant number of rescues at Taree, Port Macquarie and Ghini Ghini,’ Assistant Commissionr Malone said.

‘This is a dynamic situation where a number of evacuation warnings were issued through Tuesday and overnight, with residents door knocked as well. The NSW SES and our emergency service partners are deploying every available asset to assist with these rescues.

‘Unfortunately, we’ve also had a large number of calls for help in areas that were subject to evacuation warnings and we are still assessing how best to access those locations. We’ve advised those people needing assistance to move to higher ground, as we’re unable to currently access by boat, road or air due to the current weather conditions.’

A man has lost his houseboat as wild weather continues to pound Australia’s eastern coastline, with locals warned to prepare to head for higher ground.

In the NSW Hunter region, the Myall River is among the areas on floodwatch, with locals warned to be ready to move to higher ground.

For Ray, a cleaner at Bulahdelah’s Plough Inn Hotel, the rising river has already caused damage.

‘My houseboat went,’ he told AAP.

‘I was looking across the jetty (Tuesday) morning and it wasn’t there.

‘It’s the icing on the cake, (the weather) has been on and off for the last couple of weeks.’

The SES warned Buladelah residents to evacuate some areas on Tuesday afternoon.

Rain is expected to continue into the weekend amid the multi-day flood event.

Taree copped more than 267mm of rain across Monday and Tuesday, among some of the heaviest falls from the system.

Weatherzone meteorologist Ben Domensino on Tuesday warned the rain causing chaos across eastern NSW could stay for several days.

‘Rain will continue to inundate already flooded eastern NSW for another two to three days as a stubborn low pressure trough lingers near the coast,’ he said.

‘In addition to the 100 to 300mm that’s already fallen in the last 48 hours, parts of the Mid North Coast and Hunter could see another 100 to 250mm between Tuesday and Thursday, with heavier isolated falls.

‘Rain from this system is also likely to extend further south and west between Wednesday and Friday, soaking a broader area of NSW and the ACT, and even extending over parts of eastern Victoria and Tasmania.

‘A separate cold front should also deliver some rain to other areas of southern Australia from this weekend.’