[8] Described as a "prolonged event" by Berejiklian and "dangerous and threatening" by the Bureau of Meteorology, the floods extended from the coastal towns of Taree and Kempsey on Thursday, 18 March, to the populated suburbs of western Sydney by Friday and Saturday.

[17] The NSW and Australian governments had declared 16 natural disaster zones in areas from the central and mid-north coast, from Hunter Valley near Sydney, to Coffs Harbour, with the SES responding to 7,000 calls for assistance throughout the eastern seaboard.

[4] Fatalities include one elderly man who lost control of his vehicle in heavy rain, colliding into a tree in Mona Vale, and a bodyboarder in his 60s who disappeared on the Coffs Harbour seashore and is presumed to be dead.

[22] In parts of this region, more than 200 mm (7.9 in) of rain had fallen in just two days causing lowland areas to flood and be reminiscent of inland seas.

As a result of debris being carried downstream, the Martin Bridge was closed off due to concerns of its structural integrity after being hammered with hay bales, shipping containers and other machinery.

[23] Furthermore, supermarkets were virtually emptied due to panic buying, with Woolworths in Lakewood being cleared of bread, eggs, meat and vegetables, reminiscent of the COVID-19 lockdowns a year ago, after residents were told to evacuate in nearby North Haven, Laurieton, Dunbogan and Diamond Head.

Residents within the Warragamba Dam catchment area were on high alert on 21 March after the city's main water source had reached its volume with the communities of North Richmond, Wallacia and Sackville being at most risk.

[4][30] Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said, "Australia is being tested once again", before addressing, "the terrible storms and floods that have been ravaging NSW for the past few days are taking a heavy toll", where he mentioned that he has been in regular contact with Berejiklian.

[10] European Commission's European External Action Service activated the Copernicus Emergency Management Service – Mapping in order to produce delineation and damage grading maps[31] of floods in the Beaudesert, Bulahdelah, Grafton, Greater Port Macquarie, Kempsey, Laurieton, Maitland, Moree, Tamworth, Taree, Western Sydney and Wisemans Ferry areas of interest.

A clean-up program funded evenly between the federal and NSW governments has aided households, businesses, farmers and local councils recuperate from the floods.

[38] The worst affected regions were from the mid-north coast towns of Port Macquarie, Kempsey, Laurieton and Taree, and west Sydney in localities around Penrith and the Hawkesbury-Nepean valley.

[42] Due to the floods, the W-League and A-League clashes between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory were cancelled, as well as Golden Slipper meeting at Rosehill Racecourse.

[43] American actress Julia Roberts, her cinematographer husband Daniel Moder and their children were reportedly put on “waiting for evacuation” in their private property in the Hawkesbury area, although they were not in "direct danger" as their accommodation stood high.

Moreover, wildlife workers had rescued kangaroos stuck in drainpipes, animals hit by cars after escaping for safer ground, and as well as turtles and seabirds who were swept away from their natural habitat.

[44] In the flood affected areas, swarms of spiders and insects (such as crickets and ants), in addition to a few skinks, scarpered into homes to reach higher ground.

According to acting director of Environmental Health, Dr Adi Vyas, floodwaters can contain diseases that could lead to skin and stomach infections, and even serious conditions, such as leptospirosis.

He urged those cleaning up to always wear protective gear, including gloves and face masks, and to boil water prior to drinking and for washing raw food.

Surf Life Saving NSW had urged people to be careful when swimming at beaches that are proximate to lagoons, river mouths or waterway runoffs.