Severe storms hit New South Wales as wild weather triggers widespread disruption
Residents in large parts of NSW are being advised to stay indoors as wild weather continues to wreak havoc across the state.
Sydney is being hit by “disruptive thunderstorms” and strong winds on Wednesday evening with the wild weather wreaking havoc across the city.
Heavy rainfall and large surf conditions are expected to last until midday Thursday, with parts of the NSW coast expected to record up to 100 millimetres by the end of the day.
The NSW SES has already responded to dozens of incidents, including the rescue of three bushwalkers in Sydney’s south.
The trio were rescued at Wattamolla in the Royal National Park after a morning walk went wrong due to flash flooding in the area.
The group was rescued by NSW SES and NSW Ambulance after the flooding cut off their return route.
NSW SES members used ropes and an inflatable boat to rescue the group. They were assessed by paramedics, but uninjured.
Weather is so severe in the state’s central west that residents in Young and Cowra are being advised by the SES to stay indoors due to “heavy rainfall, destructive winds, large hailstones, tornadoes”.
Bureau of Metereology’s Miriam Bradbury said Wednesday night would be the worst of the storm.
“It will be a busy, active thunderstormy day today,” she said about the NSW coast.
“Any thunderstorm today could bring us the risk of damaging winds, heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding and hail.”
Sydney’s public transport network has already been plunged into chaos on after a “technical incident” caused the city’s metro services to be reduced.
Just before 4pm, as the storm began to hit, Sydney Metro announced that due the incident, services would only be running between Tallawong and Macquarie Park and Sydenham and Barangaroo, leaving commuters unable to cross the harbour.
“We apologise for the inconvenience,” a statement from Sydney Metro posted to social media said.
Winds are expected to reach up to 30km/h on Wednesday evening as a coastal low-pressure system offshore from the central NSW coast tracks over the Tasman Sea.
The BOM has issued a damaging surf warning for Sydney, the NSW Mid North Coast and the Hunter Region.
“Strong to gale force south to south-westerly winds around the low are expected to generate large and powerful surf conditions on Thursday, with damaging surf possible,” the BOM’s warning states.
“Beach conditions in these areas could be dangerous and people should stay well away from the surf and surf-exposed areas.”
The wild weather has already marked Mudgee’s wettest September day in 30 years of records with 64 millimetres.
-More to come
Originally published as Severe storms hit New South Wales as wild weather triggers widespread disruption
