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Sydney weather: storm and flooding cause traffic chaos for commuters Sydney weather: storm and flooding cause traffic chaos for commuters
(about 1 hour later)
Intense rain and flooding has hit Sydney and the Illawarra just ahead of the peak-hour commute, with authorities warning people to delay their journey or stay at home if possible. At least a dozen people have been rescued, a supermarket’s walls burst with water and almost 100 flights have been cancelled as heavy rain caused flash flooding across Sydney.
The downpour began about 5.30am and more than 80mm of rain fell before 7am in parts of the city. The Observatory Hill weather station recorded more than a month’s worth of rain – 84.6mm by 7am. The November average is 83.8mm. The city copped more than a month’s worth of rain in less than two hours on Wednesday morning as a series of severe thunderstorms hit the coast between Newcastle and Wollongong.
Parts of Sydney were expected to receive up to 200mm of rain on Wednesday, the most in a single day in three years. More than 105mm fell at Observatory Hill in Sydney’s city centre by 9am – eclipsing the November average of 83.8mm. Mosman recorded 118mm to 9am while Chatswood had 105mm, including 66mm within an hour.
There were reports of flash flooding in the CBD and near the city’s fish market. West Pennant Hills, in the city’s west, recorded 72.5mm in an hour, while 44mm fell in 30 minutes at Chatswood bowling club.
My gf is currently trying to swim to work... This is near the Fish Markets in Glebe 😲 #SydneyStorm pic.twitter.com/0fMcGzKhIW
West Pennant Hills, in the city’s west, recorded 72.5mm in one hour, while 44mm fell in 30 minutes at Chatswood Bowling Club.
Craziest flash flood in Sydney cbd #flashflood2018 #SydneyStorm pic.twitter.com/BbjfRsMg2U
An update from the Bureau of Meteorology issued on Wednesday morning warned of “intense rain” and “vigorous winds”, and extended the alert to parts of the Hunter, mid-north coast and central tablelands.
UPDATE: #Severe thunderstorms warning for #Sydney has been issued for Very Heavy rainfall. Be safe on your commute to work and be up to date with all warning at https://t.co/JcTXaGV5JE pic.twitter.com/Y5wnMxoie5
Flights were delayed or cancelled at Sydney Airport due to low visibility and just one runway was operating on Wednesday morning. Buses and trains were also delayed with extra staff rostered on across the network to cope with expected problems. Trains between Sydenham and Campsie and light rail services were cancelled, while ferries between Parramatta and Sydney Olympic Park were also cancelled.
⚠ ⛈ Due to adverse weather conditions today, we expect that International and Domestic terminals will experience some flight delays and cancellations. Please contact your airline for more information.
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) had received more almost 260 calls for help by 7am on Wednesday, including 11 flood rescues in Marrickville, West Pymble, Macquarie Park and Silverwater. In West Ryde, a car was trapped in five metres of water. Motorists were warned not to attempt to drive through floodwaters.
Dangerous surf warnings for all of Sydney’s beaches were issued, as well as flood warnings in place for Sydney rivers including the Georges River, the Cooks River, the Nepean River and the Parramatta River.
About 3,500 homes were without power in Sydney’s north-west with further outages expected due to lightning strikes and flooding.
Ausgrid crews are responding to an outage affecting 3500 customers in East Ryde, North Ryde and Marsfield. For update some restoration times please go to https://t.co/MxbaFPxBlK pic.twitter.com/bQ7ke6SAVS
Chief Inspector Phillip Brooks from the NSW police urged people to consider not driving on Wednesday due to severe rain and slippery roads.
Rain is pouring out of the walls at Woolworths Town Hall. #SydneyStorm pic.twitter.com/XirhFmZ01iRain is pouring out of the walls at Woolworths Town Hall. #SydneyStorm pic.twitter.com/XirhFmZ01i
On Tuesday, the bureau’s severe weather forecaster, Simon Louis, told reporters in Sydney that a low-pressure system causing the wild weather would move off the coast “fairly quickly” but would be replaced by strong southerly winds in the afternoon, with gusts of damaging winds, averaging 60km/h to 70km/h likely along the coast. Shoalhaven’s Porters Creek dam has recorded the state’s highest total so far, copping 152mm to 9am.
The SES deputy commissioner, Scott Hanckel, warned that some communities – particularly around the Nepean – could experience “short-term isolation” as a result of the rain. Sydney airport was reduced to using a single runway as it was hit by strong winds and 39mm of rain. About 90 domestic flights and four international flights have been cancelled, with passengers urged to contact their airlines for more details.
He said the morning and afternoon commutes would be “particularly dangerous”.
“As families try to get to work, drop kids off, pick kids up, things are going to get really problematic,” he said. “Businesses need to expect people to be late both getting in or getting home.”
The SES was working to have most of its 3,000 Sydney-based volunteers available.
Laughs from commuters as a worker with a broom makes an okay effort at sweeping away water lapping at the front gate of homes in Kensington #sydneyweather #SydneyStorm @SkyWeatherAUS pic.twitter.com/yrXHLPdVO9Laughs from commuters as a worker with a broom makes an okay effort at sweeping away water lapping at the front gate of homes in Kensington #sydneyweather #SydneyStorm @SkyWeatherAUS pic.twitter.com/yrXHLPdVO9
“Last weekend with a relatively small wind event we had well over 1,000 requests for assistance,” he said. The New South Wales State Emergency Service has had more than 500 calls for help and rescued 12 people from flood waters, mainly in Sydney’s north.
“In most cases, people have just driven into flood waters, followed other people into flood waters, their cars have stopped and we’ve had to go and help them out,” Greg Murphy told Sydney’s 2GB radio.
Police are urging people take care in the “horrendous weather conditions”.
My gf is currently trying to swim to work... This is near the Fish Markets in Glebe 😲 #SydneyStorm pic.twitter.com/0fMcGzKhIW
“We can’t stress enough that motorists should never attempt to drive through flood waters or cross flooded causeways,” Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy said.
Flooding has also forced the cancellation of trains between Sydenham and Campsie and light rail services, while ferries between Parramatta and Sydney Olympic Park have been cancelled.
Dozens of roads across the city have been shut owing to flash flooding.
The Woolworths supermarket at at Town Hall was forced to close after water began pouring through the walls and roof.
More than 4,000 properties are without power across the city, mostly in the central business district and the northern suburbs, with lightning strikes and strong winds damaging lines.
A severe thunderstorm warning remained current for the Sydney metro region and parts of the Hunter, Illawarra, south coast and central tablelands.
The heavy rain wasn’t expected to ease until early Wednesday evening but damaging winds could hang around until Thursday.
SydneySydney
New South Wales
Australia weatherAustralia weather
New South Wales
FloodingFlooding
Natural disasters and extreme weatherNatural disasters and extreme weather
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