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Warning that a ‘very dangerous storm’ hits Sydney after causing landslides and flash flooding in the south with 73mm of rain falling in just one hour: ‘DO NOT drive’
A ‘very dangerous’ storm has hit Sydney on fears it could trigger ‘life-threatening’ flash flooding in the city.
Severe storms are expected to hit the Sydney suburbs of Hurstville, Kurnell and Thirroul first and Bankstown, Holsworthy and Randwick at 2:40pm.
The Met Office said an “approaching upper trough is combining with an unstable environment” to trigger severe thunderstorms across NSW.
“Other severe thunderstorms with heavy rain were detected on weather radar near Sydney Airport and Botany,” the meteorology office added.
They are expected to affect Maroubra at 14:10.
“Severe thunderstorms are likely to deliver heavy rainfall that can cause dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding over the next several hours in parts of the Metropolitan and Illawarra districts.”
Strong drops are also expected for inland areas from Orange to Yass.
The central regions of New South Wales are also forecast to receive a downpour on Thursday.
Weeks of sunshine across NSW cut short on Thursday with Bellambi recording 95mm of rain in one hour, 73mm at Shellharbour Airport in one hour and Cringila reaching 90mm in two hours.
Sydney, Parramatta, Wollongong, Campbelltown, Kiama and Huskisson are forecast to be affected by heavy rain on Thursday afternoon.
Edmund Rice College in Wollongong was evacuated after the flooding and Towradgi Public School contacted parents around midday asking them to pick up the children early due to the storm.
A heavy rain warning has been issued for areas of the central and southern Tablelands, including Orange, Bathurst, Yass, Blayney and Trunkey Creek.
In November, around 20,000 residents in west central NSW, particularly Bathurst, were left without hot water for showers or ovens for cooking for weeks due to flooding that affected a crucial gas pipeline.
SES flood rescue operators are responding to incidents in Berkeley, Unanderra, Wollongong and North Wollongong.
The SES warns that flash floods could spread to Nowra, Port Kembla, Albion Park, Kiama and Huskisson.