A woman walks in the CBD with a broken umbrella. Photo / Getty
A woman walks in the CBD with a broken umbrella. Photo / Getty
A second intense low pressure system is set to hit New South Wales bringing thunderstorms and heavier rain than yesterday.
The slow-moving storm cell centred off the coast Hunter region will bring vigorous winds, large seas, and periods of heavy rain and thunderstorms to large parts of northern Sydney and the Central Coast.
Bondi beach is battered by wild weather. Photo / Getty
The rain will fall in shorter and potentially more intense bursts than it did on Tuesday before conditions are expected to slowly ease on Wednesday afternoon, the Bureau of Meteorology told ABC radio.
More than 260 SES crews and 600 volunteers will be out in the field on Wednesday while the worst storm in a decade continues to batter Sydney, the central coast and the Hunter region.
The community of Dungog in the Hunter region is said to be in 'shock' after three residents who died in dangerous weather conditions on Tuesday were identified as Robyn McDonald, aged about 70, Colin Webb, 79, and Brian Wilson, 72, the Newcastle Herald reported.
The SES says it has had about 8000 requests for help and conducted 90 flood rescues since Monday, and about 200,000 homes and businesses remain without power.
Hundreds of Sydney residents have also been warned they may have to evacuate their homes as the massive storm lashing Australia's east coast has caused overflow at of the city's main dams in Manly.
Huge waves crash over swimming baths at Avalon Beach in Sydney. Photo / AP
Authorities said they may be forced to open the sluice gates of the Manly Dam near the famous beachside suburb of the same name to release pressure from rapidly rising water levels - and that the overflow would likely cause flooding in neighbourhoods downstream.
SES issued an alert advising that volunteers and local police were out telling residents in the Manly Dam area to pack essential items and prepare to leave their premises.
By opening the dam, the SES says it will be able to control flooding, however it will still affect many homes.
Manly is a beach-side suburb of northern Sydney, and is 17 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district. The Manly Dam catchment includes 375ha of bushland plus housing, businesses and sportsfields.
SES were continually monitoring the situation. NSW police advised residents who live near the Manly Dam to expect flooding in low lying areas near the Dam will occur in the next couple of hours.
"Residents who live in low lying areas near the Dam need to remain vigilant and give consideration to relocating prior to any flooding occurring," police statement said.
If evacuation is required, residents will receive an emergency alert on their home phone or mobile. Residents were also told to move furniture and important items to higher sections of their property, and take pets, clothes and medication with them.
Terror on Carnival Cruise Ship as waves swell 11m
A cruise ship is stuck outside Sydney Heads because of a massive swell and it may be there for the next 48 hours.
The Sydney Harbour pilot has been unable to board the Carnival Spirit, said a spokeswoman for Carnival Cruise Line Australia.
Passengers were due to disembark the ship on Tuesday morning but the large swell has prevented the ship from entering the harbour.
The ship may be close to port, but it could be a while until the passengers touch dry land as Port Authority of NSW has closed Sydney Harbour for commercial shipping.
Electricity companies are trying to restore power to thousands of residences and businesses across the eastern seaboard.
Mr Pearce said the police and NSW Fire and Rescue had been called in to help the SES on the 4470 call-outs they'd received by 10am on Monday.
"We've had 24 hours of relentless gale-force winds. I haven't seen this wind damage for years," Mr Pearce said.
On Monday the SES is advised people to move their cars under cover, secure loose yard or balcony items and keep clear of fallen powerlines.
Three die in fierce flood water
Earlier NSW Police said three elderly people, two men and a woman, were found dead following the fierce storm on Tuesday morning.
One of them, a woman from Dungog in the Hunter Valley, is believed to have been swept away by flash flooding as she tried to rescue her stranded pet, the Dungog Chronicle reports.
Sally Fitzpatrick, who is a former neighbour of the dead woman in Dungog, said the town was "very quiet" and "in shock".
"I heard [the dead woman] didn't want to abandon her dog and she was washed away but the dog survived," Ms Fitzpatrick told the Dungog Chronicle.
People are battered by strong winds at Bondi beach on April 21, 2015. Photo / Getty
Locals were afraid more wild weather was set to hit the town, with many houses and business flooded, and rural properties isolated due to water over roads and a bridge collapse.
"It's getting dark and there's still no power," Ms Fitzpatrick said.
"Right now there's a black cloud approaching from the south.... thick and dark to the ground, very scary looking."
Flood warnings have been issued for Newcastle, with residents told to expect rapid rises and high velocity flash flood water in local creeks, watercourses and urban areas over the next few hours.
"Do not enter floodwater. If you become trapped you should seek the highest point within the building and to telephone 000 if you require rescue," the SES said in emergency texts to locals.
Shocking footage: House swept away by flood
This comes after shocking footage captured a Dungog house being swept away by flood waters and floating dangerously close to power lines on the street.
Local Jade Marie said it was her aunt's house that was being washed away, according to Higgins Storm Chasers.
She was helping her neighbours escape the flood waters and turned back to see the water rising around her house.
She raced back inside to evacuate her partner and children just moments before the house dislodge and started floating away.
The SES has been called to more than 4588 properties from Sydney to the mid-north coast since 7am Monday, with winds as powerful as a category two cyclone lashing some regions.
An umbrella is seen submerged in the ANZAC War Memorial pond in Hyde Park. Photo / Getty
This comes emergency service have carried out more than 47 flood rescues and Ausgrid has warned that it could take several days before power is returned many of the 215,000 homes and businesses affected by outages in Sydney, the Central Coast and Hunter regions.
A major flood warning has been issued for the Paterson and Williams Rivers, north of Newcastle, with water at the Gostwyck Bridge peaked at a record 16.11m at 3pm on Tuesday. Dungog is expected to peak near nine metres at noon and Mill Dam Falls is forecast to peak near 11m around 3pm.
Moderate to minor flood warnings have also been issued for the Hunter River at Maitland, Raymond Terrace and Wollombi Brook, while the Colo River, the Tuggerah Lake, the Lake Macquarie area, the Myall River at Bulahdelah and the Cooks River at Tempe Bridge have been issued with minor flood warnings.
Authorities are urging motorists to stay out of the floodwater as there could be significant surface damage to roads that is not visible from the surface. Floodwater is also deeper and faster flowing than it appears.
Emergency Services Minister David Elliott described the weather system as a "one-in-a-decade storm".
The 500 SES volunteers were risking "life and limb" to ensure that the people of NSW got through the storm.
"Today's events are going to test our emergency services," Mr Elliott said.
Channel Nine's news presenter Peter Overton, who has a brother and sister-in-law that live in the upper Hunter town of Dungong, spoke about the fear that gripped his family after he couldn't reach them by phone.
He recalled speaking to his brother from his make-up chair on Tuesday morning as flood warnings begun to seep in.
"They were trying to get off their property and into town and I was saying for him to take pictures, but then later I couldn't get onto him," Overton told 2GB's Ben Fordham.
"Your whole stomach moves up and you think 'did they get into town? Were they swept off?' They're isolated in their property, the lines are cut, their mobiles are cut... I spoke to my dad a short time ago and he said they got back to their property because they were cut off - a bridge has been washed away."
Thunderstorm activity has temporarily eased in the Hunter Valley; however areas of heavy rain and very windy conditions persist. A severe weather warning remains current for the Hunter (including the Central Coast), Sydney Metropolitan and Illawarra districts.
The thunderstorm situation will be closely monitored and further warnings issued if neccessary, the Bureau of Meteorology said just after 2.30pm AEST Tuesday.
Waves off Sydney have reached heights of 11.2 metres, according to the Manly Hydraulics Laboratory, and beaches including Bondi have closed with high winds blowing large amounts of sand onto nearby roads and promenades.
Travellers experience major delays
Flights in and out of Sydney's domestic airport have been affected by the wild weather lashing the city and passengers have been warned to expect delays.
Domestic flights are experiencing delays of up to 45 minutes, said a spokeswoman from Sydney Airport on Tuesday morning.
International travellers should contact their airline for specific information regarding their flight.
"Winds are to continue throughout the day so we're going to be keeping people updated via our Twitter feed. (With) passengers we're advising them to allow plenty of time to get to the airport due to traffic congestion around Sydney as a result of the weather and also to check with their airlines for latest flight details."
The spokeswoman said interstate travellers may also experience knock-on effects, particularly with domestic flights.
The SES has warned residents in the Maitland, Cessnock and Greater Newcastle areas that a "very dangerous" line of thunderstorms is moving south on Tuesday.
"This line is moving only very slowly southwards and is producing very heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours," a spokesman said on Facebook.
