Intense storms are sweeping through New South Wales causing destruction and prompting warnings with millions of people in the region dealing with dangerous weather that is far from finished.
The emergency services have confirmed that the wild weather has turned dangerous with the loss of life reported as a result of the intense rainfall, strong winds and flooding that have affected large areas of the state.
Power blackouts, road closures and property damage have been reported from the coast to country towns.
The floods caused by the unstable weather patterns that moved slowly over the state brought high rainfall to the already full waterways.
Water levels in the rivers and creeks swelled catching several people including drivers unaware.
Rescue missions were carried out by the State Emergency Service over night with many involving people stuck in cars and even the fast flowing floodwaters.
In the area around Sydney, wind gusts knocked trees and power cables to the ground leaving tens of thousands of homes without electricity.
Transportation systems were brought to a standstill with the suspension of train services on various railway lines and the closure of main roads due to floods and debris.
Local councils called on people to avoid travel and to stay away from fallen cables and roads.
Regional areas were also badly affected. Regions on the northern coast experienced flooding while regions within the central west experienced high intensity rains within a short period.
Farm owners experienced damage to their fencing and crops which continues to take a toll on a farming industry already faced with erratic weather.
The Bureau of Meteorology reported that the system was still active and that heavy rainfall and severe thunderstorms were possible over a wide area of the state.
The Bureau of Meteorology also reported that the slow moving nature of the weather system was resulting in a flooding risk in low lying areas.
The magnitude of the effect not only brings to light the increasing threat of extreme weather events but severe weather events also tend to be costly.
Economists have indicated that the cost of recovering from severe weather events such as storms and flooding is in the order of billions of dollars.
At the moment, clean up operations are only just beginning in some regions where water levels have dropped. Residents are in line to go without power for several days.
The insurance industry recorded an escalation in claims while local authorities surveyed the extent of road, bridge and public utility damage.
The officials said the conditions could change very quickly and it is important for people to get updates from authorized sources.
As the storm system continues moving across the state, millions of people remain on edge and ready for whatever type of weather comes their way.
