Record year: It has never been wetter in Sydney

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The famous Sydney Opera House (archive photo): grey, grey, grey, are all its colours,...

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DAVID GRAY / REUTERS

There has never been so much rain in Sydney: After new heavy rains in the Australian city, meteorologists have now officially classified 2022 as the wettest year in history.

The previous record from 1950, when 2194 millimeters of rain were recorded in the metropolis, was broken at noon (local time), the AAP news agency reported, citing the authorities.

And: More heavy precipitation is expected until the end of the year.

There have been warnings of new flooding in numerous places in the state of New South Wales on the east coast.

These include the famous Hunter Valley wine region and the greater Sydney area.

"We are expecting significant amounts of rain, sometimes reaching the usual monthly rainfall in a few days," said Sean Kearns of the Region's Emergency Services (SES).

Holidaymakers have been warned not to visit campsites near rivers.

Australia's east coast has been hit by exceptionally heavy rainfall and flooding several times this year.

In early July, areas in Sydney were flooded meters high.

A powerful low-pressure area between Australia's east coast and the North Island of New Zealand was responsible.

Heavy flooding continued around the city and across much of New South Wales and Queensland in February and March.

Several people lost their lives in the severe storms, and thousands of people had to flee from the water masses.

At that time, the city of Lismore in New South Wales was particularly affected.

Mayor Steve Krieg described the situation as "unprecedented" and "life-threatening."

In Sydney it had rained almost continuously for two and a half weeks.

Meteorologists were already talking about the wettest start of the year in the country's largest city since weather records began there in 1858.

Australia is particularly affected by the consequences of climate change.

aar/dpa