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Severe weather hits NSW, with storms bringing hail, flooding and a tornado Severe weather hits NSW, with storms bringing hail, flooding and a tornado
(about 1 hour later)
State Emergency Service crews have responded to 579 call-outs and helped with 34 flood rescues as heavy rain and hail lashed parts of NSW. State Emergency Service crews have responded to almost 600 call-outs and helped with 34 flood rescues as heavy rain and hail lashed parts of NSW.
The SES said in a tweet early on Tuesday that the focus of the severe weather was now in the Illawarra after Sydney and other districts were hit hard earlier. The focus of the severe weather switched to the Illawarra on Tuesday after Sydney and other districts were hit hard overnight.
NSW SES responding to 579 emergency calls for help with 34 flood rescues. Focus of severe weather now in the Illawarra.NSW SES responding to 579 emergency calls for help with 34 flood rescues. Focus of severe weather now in the Illawarra.
On Monday a tornado swept through Dubbo and damaged several homes, while hailstones the size of 20 cent coins pummelled parts of Sydney. Residents near Jerrara Dam, west of Kiama, were advised to prepare for evacuation if heavy rain continued on Tuesday.
The SES said it was keeping a close eye on 40 to 50 properties in the area that risked becoming isolated by flooded roads.
“We are watching and waiting to see how many millimetres of rain we get in the area today,” an SES spokeswoman said.
Motorists around Kiama and Albion Park were warned to travel with extra caution.
Images on Twitter showed rivers of water coursing through Sydney streets on Monday night at the height of the storm, as hail pounded the inner west and other suburbs.
The streets of Circular Quay more like a river at the moment. #Sydney #storm pic.twitter.com/e70CKAVQja
One foot of water running down Harris Street in Pyrmont last night #SydneyStorm #Rain #Flood pic.twitter.com/rFdiG62jG8
Hail pics sent to us by 7 News viewers in Leichhardt & Drummoyne. #hail #SydneyStorm pic.twitter.com/pzFx9OUuxg
On Monday a tornado swept through Dubbo and damaged several homes.
Some of the images I'm being sent of this "tornado" in Dubbo are pretty crazy... pic.twitter.com/Q6uJSBuctGSome of the images I'm being sent of this "tornado" in Dubbo are pretty crazy... pic.twitter.com/Q6uJSBuctG
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a flood watch warning for the region, along with the south coast, Lachlan and Nepean River valleys.The Bureau of Meteorology issued a flood watch warning for the region, along with the south coast, Lachlan and Nepean River valleys.
Rainfall totals in the range of 100-200mm were expected on Monday night and Tuesday, with higher localised falls of over 300mm possible, according to the BoM. SES crews prepared for more calls on Tuesday as the severe weather headed to the NSW south coast.
Residents south of Wollongong and Kiama were expecting more heavy rain as SES crews continued the clean-up from Monday’s flash floods.
Damaging winds of about 65km/h, gusting up to 90km/h, were forecast to affect the coastal fringe of the Illawarra on Tuesday afternoon and evening, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
“We’re a bit concerned about localised flash flooding down [in the Illawarra] and some potential flash flooding,” an SES spokesman said.