“If there is a break in the weather today, and it is safe to do so, get out and prepare your property for the predicted rain and storms tomorrow,” he said. It’s time to enact your flood emergency plans and prepare your emergency kits. Know when and where you will go if you need to evacuate. Find out about the evacuation routes for your location.”

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“We want the people of NSW to make safe, smart decisions over the next few days. Don’t drive, ride or walk through flood water. Don’t be on the roads if you don’t need to be.”

In Sydney, the city is expected to reach 26 degrees on Saturday and receive 20 to 35 mm of rain. In the 24 hours to 9am on Saturday, Terrey Hills and Sydney Olympic Park both received 52.8 mm of rain, Camden saw 49.2 mm and Sydney Airport received 42.4 mm.

It comes as the summer draws to a close, with heavy rainfall, humid nights and marine heatwaves all part of the wild conditions La Nina has delivered. Humidity in Sydney peaked well above the January 9am mean of 71 per cent, reaching 81 per cent. The La Nina weather event has already peaked and is beginning to weaken. However, it is likely that heavy rains will continue for a few more months.

In Queensland, an SES volunteer is among four people to have died in southeast Queensland’s major flood event, which has been described as the worst in decades.

Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan confirmed on Saturday morning that the volunteer in Ipswich died overnight, following the earlier deaths of a man at Stones Corner in Brisbane and two motorists.

State Disaster Co-ordinator Steve Gollschewski said two people were missing – in the Gympie area and in Yandina on the Sunshine Coast – with 11 emergency alerts overnight.

Brisbane received 206.2 mm of rainfall during the 21 hours to 6am on Saturday, which is the city’s highest daily rainfall total since 1974.

Meanwhile, Pomona, west of Noosa, received 538 mm of rain during the 21 hours to 6am on Saturday, including 243 mm in just 2 hours between 1am and 3am.

“This brings their running 4-day total, since 9am on Tuesday, to 1323 mm,” said Weatherzone forecaster Ben Domensino. “For perspective, Brisbane’s average annual rainfall is 1213 mm.” ​

There are currently more than 17 flood watch warnings in place, including for the upper Brisbane catchment area which has already experienced heavy rainfalls in the past few days. The Brisbane River at Gregor Creek is currently at 10.24 metres, above the 7.5m major flooding mark, and rising.

Federal Defence Minister Peter Dutton said he had authorised the Australian Defence Force to provide support to Queensland Police to assist with air evacuations from flood affected areas.

“Two helicopters have been tasked from Amberley and will join the effort,” he said in a tweet. “It is a dangerous situation unfolding, please take care on our roads.”

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