The rain will also bring below-average temperatures for this time of year, and the cold weather will linger into the early parts of next week.

Last week, parts of western and outer metropolitan Sydney were hit by severe thunderstorms, which brought strong winds, heavy rain and hail.

But Reid said that pupils returning to school need not fear that their first week back would be wet and cold as the rain is likely to clear by Monday.

The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) is urging everyone to stay vigilant and be ready as they prepare to head home from holidays.

A spokesperson for the SES said that they had made more than 80 flood rescues in the past two weeks, and said that non-essential travel should be avoided and that people need to remain cautious if they are driving in flood-affected areas.

“We are asking everybody not to travel unless it is essential if you are seeing these weather events occurring, and if you are travelling make sure you drive to the conditions.

“We are also asking the community to make sensible and smart decisions around their home and knowing their risks.”

A spokesperson for Water NSW said that it was working together with key organisations, including the weather bureau, to monitor and maintain dam levels.

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The Warragamba Dam in Sydney’s south-west reached full capacity on Sunday morning, and Water NSW said the dam was now experiencing a “very small spill” of 3.5 gigalitres a day.

As the heavy rainfall and bad weather conditions continue along the east coast of Australia, it is set to be the start of a very wet few months for Sydney, after the bureau declared a third La Niña event had begun in the Pacific Ocean.

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