“Every time it floods, there are a number of rescues and sometimes deaths because people drive through floodwaters. They can’t see the depth of the road. Please do not do it so you and your family stay safe and so do the SES and other volunteers who put their lives on the line,” he said.

NSW SES Commissioner Carlene York has urged people to stay prepared to evacuate as the weather system continues to make its way across the state.

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“We’re not out of danger yet,” she said. “We have at least 24 hours to go before the rains may subside, but the ground is saturated, the rivers are fast-flowing and the rivers are overflowing, and it is dangerous out there, particularly in the Hawkesbury-Nepean [region].”

The east-coast low is expected to weaken on Monday evening and move off the coast on Tuesday, but the wet weather will continue.

“After Tuesday, the east coast low will move further away, but we will still see onshore flow driving showers and heavy rainfall over areas such as the Hunter and Mid North Coast,” Hernandez said.

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Transport for NSW urged people to reconsider their travel plans. “Due to the ongoing impact of severe weather, please plan ahead and expect changes, delays and gaps in services across the network today,” it said.

“Please avoid any non-essential travel as trains will be heavily impacted.”

So far, trains are not running between Newcastle, Scone and Dungog due to flooded tracks near Sandgate. A limited number of replacement buses will run. Services between Campbelltown and Moss Vale have also stopped. Replacement buses will not be provided.

The T1 train service between Emu Plains and Penrith is not running due to an issue with a train at Penrith.

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