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NSW floodwaters visible from space as rain slowly clears

A sunny spell lasting the best part of a week is on the cards for the entire NSW coast from this Saturday, after a week of record May rainfall in many areas. 

At most, only a brief light shower or two should fall in most coastal spots at any time over the next week, with showers more likely on the South Coast as a cold front sweeps through on Monday.

The sunshine will be very welcome after a devastating week of NSW weather, with four people killed in flood-related incidents. At least five major flood warnings remain in place for NSW rivers, along with numerous moderate and minor flood warnings. 

With so much water surging down the rivers that empty out along the state’s northern and central coastline, it’s no wonder that some unusual things have been washing out to sea – including cows!

Record flooding continues on Australian East Coast

Cows have been rescued from floodwater inundating Wallabi Beach on the NSW Mid North Coast https://t.co/PrJ0FdNtn9… #Australia #floods pic.twitter.com/gYYKzDvgef

— * * * (@3ty3) May 22, 2025

Muddy water is also clearly visible from satellite imagery.

Image: Satellite view of the NSW Mid North Coast at 1pm on Friday, May 23, 3025.

The image above shows a distinct brown tinge in the ocean off the NSW Mid North Coast around Nambucca Heads due to floodwaters from the Nambucca River, the Bellinger River, and the mouth of the Hastings River which is obscured by cloud at the bottom of the image.

As cloud clears over the coming week, a broader pattern of muddy water will doubtless emerge further south along the NSW coastline.

The image below shows the running weekly rainfall totals in NSW in the seven days to 9am this Friday, May 23. The pink zone represents the heaviest rainfall (400mm or more) and corresponds directly to the areas of muddy ocean water.

Image: Weekly rainfall totals for NSW/ACT from May 17 to May 23, 2025. Source: BoM.

READ MORE: Our explainer from earlier this week on the cause of the NSW deluge