Canberra is set to round out the weekend with heavy rain, while parts of NSW are inundated with near record-breaking flood waters which carried a house down the Manning River.
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A severe weather warning for a large part of the NSW east coast remained in effect on Saturday night, with forecasters warning of very heavy rainfall likely to lead to flash flooding.
Up to 15 millimetres of rain has been forecast for Canberra on Sunday, with winds gusting easterly between 20 and 30 km/h.
Only 2 millimetres were recorded at Canberra Airport between 9am and 6.30pm on Saturday, but more than 20 millimetres fell at a ACTEW gauge in Deakin in the 24 hours to 6pm on Saturday. More rain was expected overnight.
The Bureau of Meteorology said heavy rain would be focused through Saturday evening over the metropolitan Sydney area, the eastern Central Tablelands and the Illawarra.
The bureau warned rain could re-develop in the Mid-North Coast and southern parts of the Northern Rivers districts on Sunday morning.
The rainy forecast prompted organisers of the annual Big Canberra Bike Ride to cancel the event.
Pedal Power chief executive Ian Ross described the cancellation of the ride as "devastating" after months of preparation.
The ACT Emergency Services Agency warned people to secure loose items outside and move cars under cover and away from trees in preparation for heavy rain.
A spokesperson from the ACT State Emergency Service said personnel were on standby for what was likely to be a busy weekend.
"There's going to be wet conditions so please stay alert and secure any loose items around the house if possible," they said.
"If anyone runs into any trouble please get in touch with SES as they are on stand by and ready to go."
A house was swept down the Manning River near Taree where flood waters are expected to rival a record set before World War II.
The cottage, owned by a couple who were due to be married on Saturday, was lifted from its foundations at Mondrook. A fundraiser for the couple had raised more than $20,000.
Communities in Taree, Kempsey and Port Macquarie are experiencing the worst flooding in 53 years.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the state is in the grip of a prolonged, extreme weather event and threatened communities won't be out of the woods until the end of next week.
Ms Berejiklian has put already flooded and vulnerable communities on an emergency footing, and says more evacuations will certainly be ordered.
"Make sure if you are asked to evacuate you do so immediately. The window for evacuation is not a big one depending on where you live. Some communities already have been advised to stock up and stay home," the premier said at a press conference on Saturday.
Residents in the Warragamba Dam catchment area may be forced to evacuate as the primary resovoir for Sydney's water supply overflows.
- with AAP
Jasper Lindell
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
