The Hawkesbury-Nepean River region faces major flooding in the coming hours, the Bureau of Meteorology warned this afternoon in its latest weather update for NSW.

“Hawkesbury-Nepean flood warning has been upgraded … due to potential major flood at North Richmond tonight,” it said in a post on X.

The bureau, in its sixth flood warning notice, said moderate rainfall totals of up to about 160mm were seen across the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley in the 24 hours to 9am today.

“Moderate flooding is occurring along the Upper Nepean River,” the notice issued about 2pm said. “Further rainfall is forecast for Friday, though rainfall should begin to ease later in the day. Major flooding may occur along the Hawkesbury and Lower Nepean River.”

The Insurance Council of Australia says it is monitoring the situation in NSW following recent heavy rain.

“Our members are ready to assist impacted customers and respond to claims as needed,” a spokesperson said. “Those impacted should contact their insurer even if they don’t know the full extent of the damage to get their claims process under way.

“At this stage, it is too early to determine the full impact of this wet weather event, but we will have a better understanding in the coming days.”

Meanwhile, the bureau cancelled its severe weather warning for communities in the Illawarra and South Coast districts.

“Heavy rainfall has eased over the Illawarra and South Coast, though showers remain,” the cancellation notice issued about 3pm said.

“The surface trough which brought areas of heavy rainfall to parts of the Illawarra and surrounds overnight has now weakened. It will continue to weaken as it moves south, though showers with moderate rainfall rates are expected to persist about southeastern NSW and the ACT for the remainder of Friday.”

The bureau’s senior meteorologist Angus Hines said in a video this afternoon rain is clearing in NSW after a wet week, but some flood impacts remain in the Hawkesbury area.

“Moderate flooding expected there through Friday, Friday night, potentially into Saturday morning before those river levels should start to ease … without much further rainfall forecast,” he said in a video just after noon today.

The NSW State Emergency Service says it has responded to 447 incidents and made 49 flood rescues since midnight, after heavy rain caused flash flooding in the South Coast, Illawarra and Sydney metropolitan regions. 

“Our flood rescue teams have been working in very challenging conditions throughout the southeast of the state through the night, and our volunteers will continue to respond until conditions ease,” acting assistant commissioner Dallas Burnes said.