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Seen something we should know about or have pictures to share? Call the Mercury newsroom on 4221 2207 or email cos@illawarramercury.com.au.
10.27pm: Traffic is affected in both directions due to flooding on the Princes Highway at Lawrence Hargrave Drive.
10.08pm: An evacuation centre has been set up for Sussex Inlet residents at the Sussex Inlet Bowling club on St Georges Avenue.An Evacuation centre has also been set up for residents in the St Georges Basin at the Country Club, 11 Paradise Beach Road in Sanctuary Point.
8.02pm: There is an evacuation warning from the NSW SES for areas in Sussex Inlet and St Georges Basin.
7.40pm: Looks like a long train trip home for Sydney commuters after a fallen tree affected the line near Oak Flats.
5.45pm: You can always guarantee a small community will rally around one another.
5.35pm: Tuesday's flood response was a multi-agency effort.
5.15pm: TRAFFIC UPDATE for your run home on Tuesday afternoon:
■ Flooding has closed the southbound Princes Highway off-ramp to Fern Street at Gerringong. Motorists are advised to use Belinda Street to access Gerringong.
■ The Illawarra Highway remains closed in both directions between Croome Lane and Taylor Road at Albion Park. The road will remain closed until it is reassessed later on Tuesday.
Light vehicles can use Tongarra Road as an alternative route, however this road isn't suitable for heavy vehicles.
■ Further south, alternating conditions have been put in place on the Princes Highway at Bewong, to allow all vehicles to travel in both directions.
5.05pm: Train services have now returned to normal between Wollongong and Port Kembla on the South Coast Line.
4.03pm: No trains are running between Wollongong and Port Kembla on the South Coast Line due to urgent track equipment repairs at Coniston.
Buses have been organised to replace trains, but these buses are yet to arrive.
Passengers are advised to allow plenty of additional travel time, listen to announcements and check indicator boards.
For the latest public transport information visit transportnsw.info or call 131 500.
3.41pm: The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a Flood Watch for the Illawarra and South Coast.
A low pressure system is deepening off the NSW coast and will bring further heavy falls to the Illawarra, mainly south of Wollongong, as well as the south coast.
If flood warnings are issued, the NSW SES will release information to inform residents about the situation and how to protect people and property.
The NSW SES advises any flooding will initially affect low-lying areas and flood-prone local roads.
Illawarra and South Coast residents should watch the weather and look out for flood waters near their properties.
Farmers located on the floodplain should be ready to move pumps, other equipment and livestock if floodwaters rise.
People are reminded to avoid walking or driving through floodwaters, which could be deeper or faster-flowing than they look. Children, in particular, should be kept away from streams and stormwater drains.
You can find more information on the weather from the Bureau website www.bom.gov.au, or by phoning 1300 659 218.
3.32pm: Lake Conjola residents have been told by the NSW SES to prepare to evacuate.
3.12pm: Residents of the Surfrider Caravan Park at Barrack Point have been told to prepare to evacuate within the next two hours.
Residents should monitor the situation and be prepared to evacuate when instructed to do so.
A Flood Evacuation Order will be issued by the NSW SES if evacuation is required.
2.45pm: Classes will be disrupted at flood-affected Bulli High School again tomorrow as the clean-up continues.
2.20pm: Forecasts suggest the East Coast Low that's caused torrential rain across the Illawarra will ease on Tuesday night.
"The low has slowly been moving south today, but was nearly stationary at lunchtime," meteorologist Rob Sharpe posted in an update on the Weatherzone website.
"This afternoon and evening the low will start to slowly drift away from the coastline and weaken, allowing wind and rain to ease overnight. This means that the rest of today rain should remain fairly heavy and consistent, before becoming light tomorrow.
"The Illawarra and South Coast should expect around 20-30mm across coastal areas tomorrow, mainly in the morning."
2.15pm: More aerial shots of Jerrara Dam, thanks to the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue helicopter crew:
2.10pm: TRAFFIC UPDATE
■ Flooding has closed the southbound Princes Highway off-ramp to Fern Street at Gerringong. Motorists are advised to use Belinda Street to access Gerringong.
■ The Illawarra Highway remains closed in both directions between Croome Lane and Taylor Road at Albion Park. The road will remain closed until it is reassessed later on Tuesday.
Light vehicles can use Tongarra Road as an alternative route, however this road isn't suitable for heavy vehicles.
■ One of two northbound lanes (lane1) is closed on the Princes Highway at the Kiama Bends due to rock slides.
■ Further south, the Princes Highway is closed to light vehicles at Bewong.
■ In the Royal National Park, Audley Road at the Audley Weir is closed in both directions until further notice
1.50pm: The Mercury has just been briefed at the NSW SES headquarters in Wollongong.
The SES has responded to 1084 requests for assistance since Monday, 379 of which have come from the Illawarra.
Wollongong City SES Unit tops the list with 83 jobs.
There have been 47 flood rescues across the state - that figure includes 14 in the Illawarra, the first of which was at 9.30pm on Monday.
Minnamurra Public School and Jamberoo Preschool were evacuated as a precaution earlier today (see earlier posts).
Four flooded classrooms at Bulli High School rendered the school non-operational on Tuesday, but students with no other options were being supervised.
The Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra, Gareth Ward, also visited the Wollongong headquarters and passed on Premier Mike Baird's appreciation for their work.
‘‘This event is just a reminder of the extraordinary volunteers we have in our community and what they do for people when these sort of events happen," Mr Ward said.
1.40pm: The most recent severe warning warning for the Illawarra says damaging winds of around 65 km/h with peak gusts of 90 km/h may affect the coastal fringe of the Illawarra and northern parts of the South Coast, particularly during Tuesday afternoon and evening.
"Beach conditions in these areas could be dangerous and people should stay well away from the surf and surf exposed areas," the Bureau of Meteorology warns.
Periods of heavy rain, which may lead to flash flooding are forecast for the Illawarra and northern parts of the South Coast. Locations which may be affected include Wollongong, Kiama, Nowra, Jervis Bay and Ulladulla.
"A small low pressure centre developed off the northern Illawarra coast last night and is currently deepening, while a strong high in the Bight strengthens a ridge towards the Tasman Sea," the bureau said.
"This pattern is generating vigorous onshore winds along the southern half of the coast, and bringing periods of heavy rainfall to the region.
"The low is expected to reach peak intensity later today, before gradually weakening during Wednesday."
1.05pm: Flooding has closed the southbound Princes Highway off-ramp to Fern Street at Gerringong.
Motorists are advised to use Belinda Street to access Gerringong.
1pm: The Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra, Gareth Ward, spent a few hours at the SES centre at Kiama on Tuesday morning and has reiterated the safety warning from authorities.
"People need to be reminded not to drive through submerged water, you can never be sure of the current and if you do you’re not only putting your own life at risk but you’re also putting the lives of several SES volunteers at risk," Mr Ward said.
"Don’t be a muppet, heed the warning."
Mr Ward said there was "no great cause for concern" about Jerrara Dam, where a red alert was issued earlier this morning, and an engineering check would occur at 2pm.
"They’ll have a look at how things are fairing. Obviously, there is some decommissioning work going on on that dam at the moment, that’s one of the reasons why they’re being extra cautious," he said.
"We don’t want to be put any lives at risk, but people shouldn’t be scared or concerned either."
12.45pm: Kiama Municipal Council road closures, according to their website, are as follows:
■ Jamberoo Road, Fountaindale Road, Mt Brandon Road, Dido Street, Swamp Road are CLOSED.
■ Jerrara Road between Jamberoo Road and the pony club is now CLOSED.
■ Fern Street at the Omega Crossing is about to be CLOSED.
Reports of large volumes of water on the road at:
■ Sandy Wha Rd, Werri Beach
■ Minnamurra Bends.
■ Jamberoo Mountain Road near Burra Creek Road
12.23pm: Here's the current situation across Wollongong City Council roads:
■ Northcliffe Drive Berkeley – flooded road near the yacht club, down to one lane.
■ Harry Graham Drive – CLOSED.
■ Darkes Road, Dapto – CLOSED.
■ Montague Street, Fairy Meadow – water over road, will be monitored during Tuesday.
■ Boundary Road and Windang Road, Windang – water over road.
■ Unara Street, Dapto – water over road
12.18pm: Safe to say it's very wet across the region.
12.05pm The NSW SES says the emergency warning for Jerrara Dam could remain in place for up to 72 hours.
Ten properties were issued the red alert evacuation warning. An SES media spokeswoman said the residents of eight properties have left but those living at the other two were staying put.
‘‘It is unlikely they will have any inundation, but they will be isolated," the spokeswoman said.
"We have had some flood rescues of horses in the area and Minnamurra preschool and primary school have elected to close (see earlier update below).
"The warning will stay in place, when it’s safe for people to return to the area it will be lifted. We’re looking at probably about 48 hours after the rain stops before that situation will change, 48 to 72 hours depending on when the rain stops.
The spokeswoman said water was spilling from the dam.
11.45am: Westpac Lifesaver Rescue helicopters are on standby south of Wollongong. The Sydney-based Lifesaver 21 has relocated to Albion Park.
11.40am: Important information about the Jerrara Dam evacuation from the NSW SES Kiama Unit:
11.35am: The Princes Highway below the M1 Princes Motorway at Dapto has reopened after earlier flooding.
Elsewhere on the roads:
■ The Illawarra Highway closed in both directions between Croome Lane and Taylor Road at Albion Park. The road will remain closed until it is reassessed later on Tuesday.
Light vehicles can use Tongarra Road as an alternative route, however this road isn't suitable for heavy vehicles.
■ One of two northbound lanes (lane1) is closed on the Princes Highway at the Kiama Bends due to rock slides.
■ In the Royal National Park, Audley Road at the Audley Weir is closed in both directions until further notice
Trains: Passengers travelling on the T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line and South Coast Line should allow plenty of extra travel time due to urgent track equipment repairs at Sutherland.
Sydney Trains says buses may supplement some services and train stopping patterns may change so passengers should listen to station announcements and check indicator boards.
11.32am: Warning for motorists from Live Traffic:
11.25am: About 400 students have been evacuated from Minnamurra Public School as a precaution.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Education and Communities said the SES advised the school to evacuate and parents had been asked to pick up their children, if possible.
Students who can't be collected have been taken by bus to the Kiama golf club.
The spokeswoman stressed the evacuation was a precautionary measure.
11.15am: The Westpac Lifesaver helicopter has snapped this aerial view of an overflowing Jerrara Dam.
11.10am: Concerns about Jerrara Dam are not new. Kiama Municipal Council resolved to decommission the dam in 2013 after concerns were raised by a safety committee.
The dam has regularly been the subject of emergency warnings or "amber" alerts during heavy rain. Read more
11.07am: Our sister publication The Kiama Independent reports the causeway below Jerrara Dam is underwater and the Westpace Lifesaver helicopter is hovering in the area.
11.05am: Some great pictures of the torrential rain across the Illawarra over the past 24 hours have emerged. Check out the Mercury's gallery here and don't forget to share yours.
11.02am: Wondering why this rain isn't going away? Check out the movement of the East Coast Low on this Bureau of Meteorology radar.
11am: The Bureau of Meteorology has shared this spectacular satellite image of the East Coast Low off the Illawarra coast on Tuesday morning.
10.57am: Delays if you're catching a South Coast Line or Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra Line train this morning.
10.55am: NSW SES have responded to 15 flood rescues in the past 27 hours, Deputy Incident Controller Alex McFadden says.
"Several of those have been for people who were driving in floodwater and others were also with regards to people requiring assistance with the evacuation of houses within the Jerrara Dam area," Ms McFadden said.
An update on the situation at Jerrara Dam, west of Kiama, is expected shortly.
Meanwhile, Ms McFadden said the SES hadn't evacuated any schools in the region, but were working with the Department of Education and Communities to determine if assistance was required.
10.42am: Wollongong City Council has closed Harry Graham Drive at Mt Kembla.
10.40am: TRAFFIC UPDATE
■ The Princes Highway below the M1 Princes Motorway at Dapto is closed southbound due to flooding. Motorists are being diverted in to Huntley Road.
Bus route 43 travelling towards Port Kembla is diverting away from Cormack Avenue in Dapto and missing one stop between the Princes Highway and Carlyle Close.
■ The Illawarra Highway closed in both directions between Croome Lane and Taylor Road at Albion Park. The road will remain closed until it is reassessed later on Tuesday.
Light vehicles can use Tongarra Road as an alternative route, however this road isn't suitable for heavy vehicles.
■ A rock slide is affecting northbound traffic on the Princes Highway at the Kiama Bends.
■ In the Royal National Park, Audley Road at the Audley Weir is closed in both directions until further notice.
10.30am: Part of the Illawarra have been drenched by its wettest day in 17 years.
Tristan Meyers, a meteorologist at Weatherzone, said Bellambi's 192mm in the 24 hours to 9am was the "wettest day out of any month since 1998".
The 159mm recorded at Albion Park during the same period gave the suburb its wettest day since March 2011, while Ulladulla's 170mm drenching was its wettest since October 2012.
10.25am: Wollongong is currently at the epicentre of the East Coast Low, which is responsible for substantial rainfall across the Illawarra.
Meteorologist Tristan Meyers, from Weatherzone, said the low was sitting about 60 to 70 kilometres south-east of Wollongong and deepening a little.
"On the southern flank of it there’s thunderstorms, but what you’re noticing right now are those very gusty showers,’’ Mr Meyers told the Mercury at 10.20am.
"We’re going to see another widespread 50 millimetres today fall across the South Coast and the Illawarra coast.
"This low is going to gradually drift further and further offshore ... so falls to this intensity are looking to subside on Thursday."
9.55am: A spokeswoman for the Department of Education and Communities has confirmed Bulli High School is non operational on Tuesday, however students who have no other options are being supervised.
9.45am: The NSW SES says the Jerrara Dam is failing and residents living downstream need to evacuate immediately.
9.33am: The SES have issued a dam failure evacuation order for Jerrara Dam.
9.10am: Rainfall totals in the 24 hours to 9am Tuesday:
Bellambi - 192.0mm
Kiama - 170.4mm
Albion Park - 159.2mm
Nowra - 181.6mm
Moss Vale - 47.6mm
High Range (Wanganderry) - 63.2mm
8.55am: Lucky escape for this driver in Jamberoo - one of a number of people rescued from floodwater across the Illawarra on Monday night.
8.50am: Major delays are being experienced on the South Coast Line due to urgent track equipment repairs at Wolli Creek.
Passengers travelling on the T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line and South Coast Line have been advised to allow plenty of extra travel time.
Trains travelling to Hurstville from the city are not stopping at Wolli Creek.
Passengers should listen to station announcements and check indicator boards.
8.45am: TRAFFIC UPDATE
* The Princes Highway below the M1 Princes Motorway at Dapto is closed southbound due to flooding. Motorists are being diverted in to Huntley Road.
Bus route 43 travelling towards Port Kembla is diverting away from Cormack Avenue in Dapto and missing one stop between the Princes Highway and Carlyle Close.
* The Illawarra Highway closed in both directions between Croome Lane and Taylor Road at Albion Park. The road will remain closed until it is reassessed later today.
Light vehicles can use Tongarra Road as an alternative route, however this road isn't suitable for heavy vehicles.
* A rock slide is affecting northbound traffic on the Princes Highway at the Kiama Bends.
* In the Royal National Park, Audley Road at the Audley Weir is closed in both directions until further notice.
8.40am: Gina Holland has sent the Mercury this amazing video of the flooded Princes Highway at Bulli on Monday night.
8.35am: Tim Tuta posted this shot of Lawrence Hargrave Drive in Thirroul to Facebook last night. Do you have pictures to share? Email cos@illawarramercury.com.au, or send them via Facebook or Twitter.
8.30am: The NSW SES Wollongong City Unit says it responded to about 50 calls for help and completed five flood rescues on Monday night.
8.25am: The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a Flood Watch for the Illawarra and South Coast.
A low pressure system is deepening off the NSW coast and will bring further heavy falls to the Illawarra, mainly south of Wollongong, as well as the south coast.
At this stage there is a greater than 70 per cent chance of flooding in the following river valleys from Tuesday onwards:
1. Illawarra District - mainly south of Wollongong - local flash flooding
2. South Coast - local flash flooding
3. St Georges Basin - minor flooding
8.20am: The State Emergency Service has responded to 155 jobs in the Illawarra and South Coast.
8.15am: Lake Illawarra police have urged drivers to stay off the road if they can on Tuesday, with further heavy rainfall expected to lash the Illawarra.
Officers helped the Kiama, Shellharbour and Coniston SES teams rescue the male driver of a car caught in flood waters at Swamp Road, Dunmore, early Tuesday morning.
8am: Parts of the Illawarra have been drenched by almost 200 millimetres of rain on Monday night, with more heavy falls expected on Tuesday.
The significant rain is the result of a small East Coast Low that developed off the northern Illawarra coast on Monday night.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the low was deepening early Tuesday morning.
"This pattern is generating vigorous onshore winds along the southern half of the coast, and bringing periods of heavy rainfall to the region," the bureau said in a severe weather warning.
"The low is expected to reach peak intensity later today, before gradually weakening during Wednesday."
Rain totals from 9am Monday to 8am Tuesday include:
Bellambi 185.2mm
Kiama 154.4mm
Albion Park 151.4mm
Nowra 178.0mm
TRAFFIC
* The Princes Highway below the M1 Princes Motorway at Dapto is closed southbound due to flooding. Motorists are being diverted in to Huntley Road.
Bus route 43 travelling towards Port Kembla is diverting away from Cormack Avenue in Dapto and missing one stop between the Princes Highway and Carlyle Close.
* The Illawarra Highway closed in both directions between Croome Lane and Taylor Road at Albion Park. The road will remain closed until it is reassessed later today.
Light vehicles can use Tongarra Road as an alternative route, however this road isn't suitable for heavy vehicles.
* Storm debris is affecting traffic in both directions on Lawrence Hargrave Drive between Scarborough and Stanwell Tops
* A rock slide is affecting northbound traffic on the Princes Highway at the Kiama Bends.
* In the Royal National Park, Audley Road at the Audley Weir is closed in both directions until further notice.
TRAINS
Sydney Trains say there's currently "good service"
SCHOOLS
Reports Bulli High School is closed due to flooding.
