A body believed to be a missing man swept away by floodwaters has been found as NSW prepares for more dangerous weather from former tropical cyclone Alfred.
Police were called to Megan, about 25km north east of Dorrigo in the state's far north, on Friday afternoon after a ute had been swept into floodwaters.
The 61-year-old male driver got out of the ute and climbed into a tree about 30m from the riverbank but emergency services could not reach him before he was swept away.
A major search effort was launched but the body of a man was found about 4.30pm on Saturday.
"While the body is yet to be formally identified, it is believed to be that of the missing man," police said in a statement.
The rescue came as residents were warned that dangerous weather has not yet passed as communities face fallen trees, downed powerlines and flash flooding after ex-tropical cyclone Alfred.
Despite the cyclone being downgraded to a tropical low, multiple major flood warnings remain for the Tweed, Richmond, Wilsons, Brunswick, Orara, Clarence and Bellinger rivers.
Major flooding is also expected at the Wilsons River, which runs through Lismore, where the river height is predicted to reach about 10.6m, the height of the levee.
In an update, the SES said the river was at 9.04m and rising.
Despite the moderating conditions, it was important for residents to remain cautious, NSW SES assistant commissioner Nicole Hogan said.
"Where we are able to, we have downgraded our warnings and are allowing people to return home, such as Bowraville where the threat has reduced," she said.
Saturday was "D-Day" for the weather event, NSW SES Commissioner Michael Wassing said.
"Irrespective of the crossing of the cyclone currently in Queensland, we're still seeing very strong winds," he said.
"But more importantly, we're still seeing very heavy rainfalls and therefore river rises, flash flooding and continued inundation of many areas."'
NSW Premier Chris Minns said the next 24 hours would be crucial as the weather system moved across the area.
"The message hasn't deviated, particularly as we move through to the flood part of this natural disaster," he said.
"That is, never drive through floodwaters, never put yourself in danger. It is the most common way of people losing their lives during these flooding events."
In the past 24 hours, there were 30 flood rescues, predominantly from people driving through floodwaters.
There are 131 warnings, including 40 emergency warnings, which equates to approximately 20,000 people under evacuation orders.
Mr Wassing said while the water levels in Lismore were still below the levees, the SES was ready for all outcomes.
"The CBD levee and the levee to the south part of Lismore has not overtopped ... but we are getting flooding in low-lying areas in Lismore," he said.
"Certainly with the Wilsons River, the predictions indicate that there will be rises and there is likely to be further flooding."
With significant power outages affecting Lismore, leaving about 43,000 premises without power, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said six generators were being sent from the national stockpile.
"Right now, very clearly, we need to stick together and continue to look after each other," he said on Saturday morning.
"The impacts are already being felt and there is worse to come in the hours ahead."
Mr Albanese is expected to visit the region in coming days and urged people to remain vigilant and stay out of floodwaters.
