Emergency Alert: Sydney's Flash Flooding and Thunderstorms
Sydney residents are on high alert as emergency warnings have been issued for several areas due to flash flooding and severe thunderstorms. The city experienced a deluge of rain, with some regions bearing the brunt of the storm's fury.
The storm, moving westward from the coastline, hit Sydney's south and west around 5:30 am, with the southwest and Blue Mountains taking the brunt. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, Liverpool recorded a staggering 68mm of rain from midnight to 5:15 am, with Peakhurst receiving a drenched 44mm in just one hour between 3:30 and 4:30 am.
This early morning storm continues Sydney's wet weekend, with the Northern Beaches issued with evacuation notices late last night. Residents in the Narrabeen Lagoon area were urged to leave just before 11 pm due to localized flooding, and an emergency warning remains in place.
A landslide was reported at Great Mackerel Beach near Barrenjoey Headland, impacting three properties. A Watch and Act flood warning is also in effect for Manly Lagoon, with updates expected at 10 am.
Other areas at risk include Penrith, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, and Strathfield. The risk of flash flooding could last for several hours, with heavy winds and hailstones also expected from the storms, which are also impacting the state's north in towns like Armidale and Tamworth.
SES State Duty Commander Sonya Oyston urged drivers to take extreme care on roads due to the wet weather and risk of flash flooding. She warned that roads may remain closed for some time and advised the community to remain patient and make safe, sensible decisions.
People in affected areas are urged to avoid creeks and storm drains and not drive through floodwater. The storm stretched across Sydney and surrounding areas, with the Central Coast and Wollongong lashed with hundreds of millimeters of rain in the last 48 hours.
The SES responded to over 1400 incidents, including 743 in the Sydney area. The weather has wreaked havoc with the state's roads and transport, with several closures in place. Buses are replacing trains between Hornsby and Gosford due to flooding, and bus and light rail services in Sydney have been impacted.
Several roads are closed across Sydney, including Wakehurst Parkway and Joadja Road. A woman was killed in the Southern Highlands yesterday when the car she was traveling in was struck by a tree branch. Download the 9News app for the latest updates and notifications.
