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Around half-a-million people in NSW are subject to evacuation orders or warnings as the focus of the state's unprecedented flood crisis moves south, with Greater Sydney, the Hunter and the Central Coast copping a deluge.

Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke said on Thursday those regions were facing "treacherous weather conditions", with the next 24 hours critical.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the floods in the Hawkesbury region "will be worse than they were last year".

Along with the wash-up from the destructive floods in the Northern Rivers, the state was facing "a battle on two fronts", he said on Thursday.

"We do believe that things will get worse before they get better," he said.

"But my message to you is that we will get through this."

The Bureau of Meteorology said rainfall levels could hit a peak of 250mm and warned of life-threatening flash flooding and damaging winds with peak gusts in excess of 90km/h.

Major flooding is expected in western Sydney along the Hawkesbury, Nepean and Georges rivers, Colo and Macdonald rivers at Menangle, North Richmond, Penrith and Windsor, with dozens of suburbs on high alert.

The South Coast is also subject to a minor flood warning for the Shoalhaven and Sussex Inlet.

The State Emergency Service has issued 76 evacuation orders affecting 200,000 people and 18 evacuation warnings have been sent to nearly 300,000 people.

Tens of thousands of people living in Sydney's west, northwest and southwestern suburbs including Windsor, North Richmond, Camden and Milperra, have been ordered to flee to safety with evacuation centres set up in suburbs including Canley Vale and Blacktown.

Charity Save the Children Australia has set up child-friendly spaces at the Canley Vale centre and has also sent teams to northern NSW centres and more than 300 schools across the state are closed because of flooding.

The Nepean River at Penrith will reach nine metres, bringing moderate flooding while the Hawkesbury River at North Richmond will reach 15 metres, bringing major flooding.

At Windsor, the Hawkesbury River will reach 14 metres by Thursday night - two metres above its major flood level.

Residents who endured floods in the Hawkesbury-Nepean region a year ago were told to leave on Wednesday evening after around 600 gigalitres of water flowed over the Warragamba Dam wall, threatening around 130,000 homes in its path.

Endeavour Energy is advising customers in low-lying areas to prepare now for power cuts ahead of rising floodwater levels.

More than 300 properties - mainly along the Hawkesbury River below Windsor - have had power cut.

Further north, thousands of properties remain without power after flooding earlier in the week.

Essential Energy said on Wednesday night it had restored power to about 2500 customers, but 18,000 more were still without power, and crews were unable to get into Woodburn, Broadwater and Ballina.

In Lismore, the clean-up and search of flooded homes continues, with four fatalities confirmed so far.

Two women in their 80s and a man in his 70s were found dead in their flooded homes, while another man's body was found floating down a Lismore street.

A fifth man died on the Central Coast last Friday morning after his car was swept away in floodwaters.

Lismore is also facing shortages of essentials such as food, fuel, fresh water and cash as ATMs run out of money.

The BOM has warned areas on the mid north coast and Hunter region already impacted by flooding could see renewed river rises with thunderstorms forecast across the district on Thursday afternoon.

Abnormally high tides and damaging surf warnings are also in place for practically the entire NSW coastline, with east facing beaches at greater risk.

Coastal erosion is likely and low lying areas could also be affected by tidal flooding.

© AAP 2022

Thousands of people in Greater Sydney have been ordered to flee their homes as the flood crisis gripping NSW continues, with severe weather and heavy rain battering vast swathes of the state.

Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke says Greater Sydney, and the Central Coast are facing 'treacherous' weather conditions, with the next 24 hours critical.

Major flooding is expected along the Hawkesbury and Nepean and Georges rivers, at Menangle, North Richmond, Penrith and Windsor on Thursday.

The State Emergency Service received 3166 calls for help in 24 hours and overnight issued more than 60 evacuation orders and 20 evacuation warnings.

Tens of thousands of people living in Sydney's west, northwest and southwestern suburbs including Windsor, North Richmond, Camden and Milperra, were ordered to flee to safety.

The Bureau of Meteorology is warning of life-threatening flash flooding and damaging winds with peak gusts in excess of 90 km/h.

SES assistant Commissioner Sean Keans says a looming east coast low off Newcastle will bring heavy rain to the Hunter, the Central Coast and Sydney, the Illawarra and the South Coast from Thursday morning.

"That's going to bring with it up to 250mm of rain over a two to three hour period which can be really dangerous and it's also going to bring strong wind, so we are asking people if they can avoid unnecessary travel," he told Sydney radio 2GB.

River levels are rising extremely fast due to the sheer volume of rain, with flood levels along the Hawkesbury-Nepean set to be worse than those which affected the area in March 2021.

"The flooding is going to be higher this time," Mr Keans warned.

The Nepean River at Penrith will reach nine metres bringing moderate flooding, the Hawkesbury River at North Richmond will reach 15 metres bringing major flooding.

At Windsor, the Hawkesbury River will reach 14 metres by Thursday night - two metres above its major flood level.

Residents in western Sydney who endured floods in the Hawkesbury-Nepean region in March last year were told to leave on Wednesday evening after around 600 gigalitres of water flowed over the Warragamba Dam wall.

Ms Cooke said that would have a significant impact downstream with about 130,000 homes in the path of the overflowing dam.

She urged people to heed evacuation orders but avoid leaving home unless told to by the SES - and to be aware of other risks such as falling trees .

NSW Health said people isolating due to COVID-19 who need to evacuate their homes must leave.

"If you are told to evacuate, you must evacuate," acting Chief Health Officer Marianne Gale said.

"Under no circumstances should you remain in self-isolation at your residence - your safety is our highest concern and an emergency evacuation is a valid reason to leave your home."

NSW Health advises COVID-19 positive people at flood evacuation centres to notify staff, wear a mask and physically distance from others.

In Lismore on the north coast the clean-up continues as the death toll rises, with four fatalities confirmed in the region's flood event so far.

The devastated town is also facing food shortages with supermarket shelves empty and petrol shortages. Residents are reporting ATMs have run out of cash.

Two women in their 80s and a man in his 70s were found dead in their flooded homes, while another man's body was found floating down a Lismore street.

A fifth man died on the Central Coast last Friday morning after his car was swept away in floodwaters.

© AAP 2022

Thousands of people in Sydney's west, northwest and southwest have been ordered to flee their homes as the flood crisis gripping NSW continues, with severe weather and heavy rain battering vast swathes of the state.

Major flooding is expected along the Hawkesbury and Nepean and Georges rivers, at Menangle, North Richmond, Penrith and Windsor on Thursday.

The State Emergency Service received 3166 calls for help in 24 hours and overnight issued more than 20 evacuation orders to tens of thousands of people living in Sydney's west, northwest and southwestern suburbs including Windsor, North Richmond, Camden and Milperra.

The Bureau of Meteorology is warning of life-threatening flash flooding and damaging winds with peak gusts in excess of 90 km/h.

SES assistant Commissioner Sean Keans says an east coast low off Newcastle will bring heavy rain to the Hunter, the Central Coast and Sydney, the Illawarra and the South Coast on Thursday morning.

"That's going to bring with it up to 250mm of rain over a two to three hour period which can be really dangerous and it's also going to bring strong wind, so we are asking people if they can avoid unnecessary travel," he told Sydney radio 2GB.

River levels are rising extremely fast due to the sheer volume of rain, with flood levels along the Hawkesbury-Nepean set to be worse than those which affected the area in March 2021.

"The flooding is going to be higher this time," Mr Keans warned.

More than 250 schools across the state are closed and the SES is urging people to avoid driving as flooded roads and reduced visibility make conditions dangerous.

Deputy Premier Paul Toole said on Wednesday night the Georges River was likely to exceed the heights of the 2021 flood and residents were in for a "tough night".

"If you were effected by flood in 2021 get out now," he said.

Residents in western Sydney who endured floods in the Hawkesbury-Nepean region in March last year were told to leave on Wednesday evening after around 600 gigalitres of water flowed over the Warragamba Dam wall.

About 130,000 homes are in the path of the overflowing dam, and Mr Toole wanted them to be empty before floodwaters hit.

"Get out now ... We do not want to see those situations where people are on the roofs of their houses waiting to be rescued," he said.

NSW Health says people isolating due to COVID-19 who need to evacuate their home because of rising floodwaters must leave.

"If you are told to evacuate, you must evacuate," acting Chief Health Officer Marianne Gale said.

"Under no circumstances should you remain in self-isolation at your residence - your safety is our highest concern and an emergency evacuation is a valid reason to leave your home."

NSW Health advises COVID-19 positive people at flood evacuation centres to notify staff, wear a mask and physically distance from others.

In Lismore on the north coast the clean-up continues as the death toll rises, with four fatalities confirmed in the region's flood event so far.

Two women in their 80s and a man in his 70s were found dead in their flooded homes, while another man's body was found floating down a Lismore street.

A fifth man died on the Central Coast last Friday morning after his car was swept away in floodwaters.

© AAP 2022