Spectators at the Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks covered up any way they could during yesterday’s rain. Picture: Richard Gosling

Total rainfall is expected to exceed 100mm for much of the east coast, including Sydney, Newcastle and as far north as Coffs Harbour.

And there is no respite in sight, with Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Gabrielle Woodhouse saying the persistent showers will hang around right through until next weekend.

A couple make a break for it as more rain lashed the city early this morning: Gordon McComiskieSource:News Corp Australia

A taxi collided with a car in Macquarie Street early this morning, trapping the driver. Picture: Gordon McComiskieSource:News Corp Australia

People make their way home in a rain-sodden CBD early today. Picture: Gordon McComiskieSource:News Corp Australia

“We have a coastal trough that is deepening off the coast and dragging the moist air from the Tasman Sea, causing this rainfall,” she said

The torrential rain has already wreaked havoc this week, with SES crews working around the clock responding to flood rescues.

Yesterday, more than 100mm of rain fell in 24 hours in several parts of the Illawarra region, including Mount Pleasant, with 118mm, and Port Kembla, with 103mm.

Art: Daily TelegraphSource:The Daily Telegraph

“It was full on, we had a total of 58 rescues in the Illawarra, and 50 of them of were people trapped in cars and the others for animals and livestock,” SES spokeswoman Lindy Alston said.

The SES is bracing for a hellish weekend, as a number of already flooded waterways and saturated catchments will cop another dumping of rain, and more flash flooding predicted.

“Basically, the people up north need to make sure their properties are battened down, items in backyards are secured, and they don’t enter floodwater,” Ms Alston said.

Spectators at the Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks covered up any way they could during yesterday’s rain. Picture: Richard GoslinSource:News Corp Australia

NSW copped rain, rain and yet more rain yesterday. Picture: Richard GoslingSource:News Corp Australia

SES workers received 201 calls for help last night and responded to 2135 since the soggy weather began earlier this week.

“A lot of the calls have been relating to just general storm damage — leaking roofs and things like that,” spokesman Brent Hunter told AAP. There have also been 60 flood rescues.

“We’re seeing a lot of activity around the Illawarra, south coast and towards Sydney,” Mr Hunter said.

“A lot of those were motorists driving into flood waters and there were also nine animal rescues.” The SES had 180 teams ready to respond to further incidents on Saturday, which included about 650 volunteers.

Areas of the mid-north coast have already experienced a drenching in the 24 hours to Saturday morning.

The highest falls included 179mm at Careys Peak in the Williams Range, 142mm at Bellingen and 135mm at Red Hill in Coffs Harbour.

The SES warned residents to keep clear of creeks and storm drains and never drive, ride or walk through flood water.

Doctor Peter Bacon from Soil Science Australia said it was likely soil in Western Sydney’s had reached peak saturation, which could lead to trees collapsing as the soil is loosened.

“If it becomes very wet, and you have large trees, they can get blown down,” he warned.

Originally published as Sick of rain? It’s not going away