Lismore told to evacuate as parts of NSW prepare for worst floods since 1880

The dire weather emergency drenching Australia’s east coast is moving even further south as heavy rains and floods threaten NSW, as residents of Lismore are evacuated over fears it could be hit with the worst flooding in more than a century.

Thousands of residents in the northeastern NSW city were ordered to evacuate before 5am on Monday as severe weather and major flood warnings were put in place.

Residents woke to the sounds of sirens in the early hours of Monday morning as the levels exceeded 10.6m.

The area has been smashed with 406mm of rain between 9am on Sunday and Monday morning, while the nearby town of Dundoon was hit with 582mm.

A man is feared dead after police heard the man call for help in floodwaters near Brewster St and Uralba St in Lismore about 4pm on Sunday.

Officers desperately searched for the man into Sunday evening after losing sight of him, with fears he may have been washed down a drain.

The search was called off when floodwaters became too dangerous and resumed at first light on Monday.

The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting flood levels to peak at 13.5 metres at the Wilsons River on Monday evening, with data showing the highest recorded flood was 12.4 metres in 1880.

The bureau warns the river will smash the March 1974 record of 12.15m, which is far above the March 2017 peak of 11.59m.

The slow-moving coastal trough deepened and formed a low-pressure system off the NSW coast on Sunday night, producing even more heavy rainfall, the bureau said.

“There were areas of locally intense rainfall associated with embedded thunderstorms.

“Dangerous and rapid river level rises are being observed along the tributaries upstream of Lismore.”

Authorities are saying it is difficult to know just how much water is coming down the valley into the city.

The city centre has been completely closed off to drivers and pedestrians, with police shutting it off as water levels continue to rise in the CBD.

“For the safety of YOU and your FAMILY please evacuate the township NOW!” the Richmond police district said on its social media pages.

While the situation continues to worsen, Northern Rivers SES have asked residents to be patient.

“If you drop out, please try again and if the situation is life-threatening, hang up and dial 000,” it wrote on Facebook.

“The situation in Lismore and surrounds is extremely dangerous and rapidly evolving. NSW SES continues to receive requests from residents to assist with evacuations.”

NSW SES Chief Superintendent Steve Patterson said more rain was predicted for areas across the Northern Rivers and mid-north coast.

“The predictions are that we will see about 150-250mm of rain within 24 hours across that widespread area,” he said.

A number of evacuation orders are in place across NSW on Monday morning, including parts of Lismore, South Murwillumbah, Wiangaree, Tumbulgum, Condong, Mullumbimby, Coraki and Kyogle.

Major flood warnings are also in place for the Tweed River, Clarence River, Brunswick River and Marshalls Creek.

The bureau is predicting major flooding for Murwillumbah and Tumbulgum, while the Clarence River at Grafton, Ulmarra and Maclean could reach levels similar to those seen in March last year.

Meanwhile, Casino has been warned to prepare for the possibility of flooding and possibly evacuation.

Conditions are worsening across the border in Queensland’s southeast, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk describing the carnage as “unpredictable as a cyclone”.

Seven people have died in the Queensland weather disaster after a 59-year-old man was sept away by floodwaters on Sunday afternoon.