A severe thunderstorm has triggered flash flooding in Sydney’s south-west, inundating a childcare centre in Leumeah.

Police and parents rushed to evacuate the children from the Leaping Learners early education facility.

Further south however tragedy struck, with a woman’s body recovered from floodwater at Tuross in the state’s Snowy Monaro Region.

State Emergency Service Chief Superintendent Greg Swindell confirmed to Jim Wilson while the SES has had 585 in 24 hours calls for assistance, thankfully only 19 of those have required rescues.

He emphasised motorists must not enter floodwater, and should avoid driving at all where possible.

“Be cautious, we’re certainly not out of the bad weather.

“In in the last few hours, [we’ve had] eight flood rescues, 120 jobs in the Sydney metro [area] itself.”

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Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Melody Sturm told Jim showers and storms are expected to continue overnight, hitting the south and the Illawarra.

“We also have an additional risk, especially with storms close to the coast, in the Illawarra we could see a possible waterspout.”

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