The body of a woman lost in the Tasmanian floods has been found in her home.
Mary Allford, 75, was reported missing after her husband was winched to safety when their Latrobe home was inundated with water yesterday.
Search and rescue crews today found Ms Allford's body after the water inside her home had subsided.
An 81-year-old man, named by the ABC as Trevor Foster, is still missing after being swept into the rising Ouse River from his backyard following heavy rainfall.
A second man is also missing after his car was swept away at Evandale in what Premier Will Hodgman says are the state's worst floods for 40 years.
A woman was plucked to safety near Evandale, south of Launceston on Tuesday after the car she was travelling in was swept away.
The Tasmanian State Emergency Services said in a statement there was major flooding in the South Esk, Macquarie and Meander rivers as well as "widespread localised flooding across the state".
SBS News reporter Julia Calixto is in Launceston where rain was continuing on Tuesday morning and the state had already seen record rain falls, and in some locations, record river heights.
She said the city was set to yet to feel the worst of the massive storm that has already battered Australia's east coast, particularly NSW, with more rain still to come.
"As the rivers continue to swell they're going to funnel through to Launceston and they're warning Wednesday is going to be the critical point for the city," Calixto said.
She said the state was reeling, having just come through a terrible drought.
"A lot of people are sill a little bit shocked because they haven't seen rain like this in decades and they've just been through one of the most severe droughts ever," Calixto said.
"People are still in for a long week and there's no signs of the rain easing yet."
More than 100 roads are closed across the state and 11 floodgates have been closed with people advised to avoid all non-essential travel.
Changes to Tasmania's topography since the last major flooding event 90 years ago meant authorities are still uncertain as to how the state will be affected and two evacuation centres are still in operation.
Calixto said the combination of the drought followed by the rains and flooding meant farmers were having a tough year, but the drought may have helped the state.
"The drought and the fact that the dams were so significantly low may have helped them," she said.
"If they had been at normal levels it may have been much worse."
The Tasmanian SES said multiple properties had been inundated including:
- 50 in Newstead
- 20 homes and 15 businesses in Latrobe
- Seven homes in Wynyard
- Five homes in Ouse
- Several properties in outlying rural areas.
Search continues for missing man
Police are continuing to search for two elderly people who were swept away in separate incidents on Monday.
A man aged in his 80s was carried off by floodwaters at his Ouse property.
The floods gripping Tasmania are said to be the worst since 1929.
More than 100 people have been rescued by helicopter in the island state, and at least 100 homes have been inundated.
The Spirit of Tasmania ferry service, between Melbourne and Devonport, has been suspended until further notice.
Major flood warnings are current for five Tasmanian river systems.
Three people have been confirmed dead in NSW after their vehicles were swept away by floodwaters, while in Tasmania there were fears for two people whose car was swept away south of Launceston at 2.30am.
Police said one was found safe and well on Tuesday morning, but the search continues for the second person.
Two elderly people are also missing in Ouse and Latrobe in Tasmania, which copped the brunt of the storm on Monday as NSW started to clean up.
A search will resume for a swimmer missing after entering wild waters at Sydney's Bondi beach on Tuesday.
Emergency services have been left "absolutely frustrated" by people who enter floodwaters despite repeated, clear warnings to stay away from them, with both police and the SES stressing people are placing their lives at great risk by doing so.
"Please heed our advice, your life could depend on it," Acting Assistant Commissioner Kyle Stewart said, adding many of the 290 flood rescues across NSW could have been avoided.
Tasmanian flood victims to get financial aid
Tasmanians who've lost homes and belongings in the state's worst floods in 40 years will be able to get immediate financial assistance, the government says.
Emergency aid of up to $750 per family - comprising $200 per adult and $100 per child - will be made available to help flood victims buy clothing, food, transport, shelter and personal items.
The Tasmanian government is also examining other support measurers and has officers on the ground supporting farmers with stock management.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the three people missing - a man from Ouse, a woman from Latrobe and a man at Evandale - for whom police hold grave fears," Premier Will Hodgman said in a statement on Tuesday.
The Insurance Council of Australia has declared the event a catastrophe with at least 200 homes and businesses inundated, including 50 at Newstead, 35 at Latrobe, seven in Wynyard and five in Ouse.
Northern beaches homes still under threat
At Collaroy, significant erosion which led to backyards, balconies and a swimming pool slipping into the sea, is still threatening to take homes after a second king tide on Monday night.
Meanwhile, bridges along the Hawkesbury, including the Windsor and Yarramundi bridges, have been closed with the river peaking early on Tuesday morning.
The North Richmond bridge is still open, but being monitored and could be closed.
The mop-up continues across NSW after powerful storms smashed the state's coast, with NSW SES still working on the more than 10,180 calls for help.
About 700 properties at Narrabeen were evacuated during the weekend's wild weather but by Monday evening it was deemed safe for people to return home.
The destructive low-pressure system moved south to Tasmania on Monday and a flood watch has been issued for all Tasmanian river basins.
RELATED READING:
Search halted for missing Bondi swimmer
More than 100 people were rescued from flooded properties in Latrobe, Ouse, Newstead and the Meander Valley, with more than 100 properties inundated across the state.
The Latrobe home of a woman who has gone missing was inundated by water earlier on Monday morning, but her husband was rescued from the roof of their property by helicopter.
Authorities on Monday night suspended the search for a man in his 80s, who was swept away by floodwaters from his Ouse property about 8am.
The search resumed at first light on Tuesday.
The Bureau of Meteorology says the heavy rains inundating Tasmania will not ease until Tuesday, and wet weather is forecast for the rest of the week.
Wild weather diverts PM's Tassie visit
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will campaign in NSW after wild weather stopped his plans to visit Tasmania.
The prime minister was due to fly to Launceston on Tuesday but police warned his office it was best to stay clear, as the state continues to grapple with a flood crisis.
Mr Turnbull said natural disasters were tough times but they brought out the best of Australia.
He thanked the tireless efforts of emergency service workers and urged people to play it safe.
"Do not try to drive through or travel through floodwaters. Stay on high ground and wait for the water to come down," he told reporters in Melbourne on Monday.
- with AAP
RELATED READING:
Sydney man catches fish from balcony during storm surge
