Freak storm leaves schools closed, 10,600 homes, businesses without power in Northern Rivers

Schools are closed, thousands are without power and SES crews have shifted into overdrive after a “microburst” storm lashed the Northern Rivers on Sunday night.

Schools are closed, thousands are without power and SES crews have shifted into overdrive after a “microburst” storm with 125km/h winds, marble-sized hail and heavy rainfall lashed the Northern Rivers on Sunday night.

Update

Essential Energy crews have been working for 22 hours assessing and restoring power to more than 10,600 homes and businesses impacted during destructive storms Sunday night.

In a statement from Essential Energy the company said safety equipment automatically operated isolating power to customers after faults were detected on multiple powerlines, keeping the community safe until crews could assess.

“Crews worked overnight to assess the damage with an initial focus on keeping the community safe from damaged electricity infrastructure such as fallen powerlines, while locating faults in the network,” a spokesman said.

Fallen powerlines, damaged electrical equipment and vegetation on powerlines were identified in multiple locations.

“Over 3,500 customers were impacted in Woodburn, Coraki, Broadwater, Evans Head and surrounding areas as the major 66,000-volt powerline that feeds electricity to the area was damaged during the storm.

“Access to reach the line in to make repairs was challenging, with a major repair required in among swamp lands in Caniaba.”

Crews from other depots were deployed to help with restoration efforts, while a helicopter was brought in to assist with identifying damage.

The majority of customers had their power restored just after 3:30pm on Monday.

Earlier

A major powerline between Lismore and Woodburn was damaged in the storm which tore through the region late on Sunday afternoon, affecting power supply to communities around Woodburn, Coraki, Evans Head, Broadwater and Wardell.

Essential Energy crews have been working overnight to restore power to more than 7000 homes a business with a spokesman stating “just over 3500” remain with out power on Monday morning.

“Approximately 250 customers in parts of Lismore, Goonellabah and Parrots Nest are also without power, after the local network was damaged by lightning and vegetation,” the spokesman said.

The spokesman said Essential Energy teams will continue to make repairs throughout the day and investigators are out in a helicopter surveying hard-to-access areas.

Storm approaching Lismore. Picture: Craig Rose

Lismore SES received upwards of 46 requests for assistance with more coming in while two of the city’s biggest schools, Rivers Lismore High and Richmond River High schools are closed on Monday due to storm damage.

“Lismore High Campus is non-operational on Monday 9/12/24 due to the storm damage,” Richmond River High principal Chris Williams said on social media.

“There is currently no power to the site and there are a number of trees that have fallen around the school that are causing safety hazards.

“There will be no supervision available for students at the school, please keep your young person home on Monday.”

Storm damage on back of Ballina and Wyrallah Rd's in Lismore. Picture: Victoria Pitel

Revellers out Sunday afternoon for the annual Christmas Carols made the most of the moments before the storm hit before the council cancelled the highly anticipated event.

“Food vendors, stage and sound engineers fully got blown away,” Sophie Hume-Kennedy posted on Facebook.

“The sound peoples gazebo had 5 plus people holding it down and it got torn to shreds. The security fences were flying across the field.

Storm captured from Macleans Ridges near Lismore. Picture: Michael Bath

“It all got fully destroyed.

“Indian bowl who was next to us, his gazebo, bowls/spoons and stock was fully destroyed and torn apart. Even if they wanted to keep going everything was damaged.”

“The sound engineers lost their gazebo, everything drenched and damaged. Stage area damaged, food vendors suffered damage and loss of stock. Ground was covered in water,” another vendor commented.

Homes and businesses without power on Sunday night included Bagotville, Bora Ridge, Broadwater, Buckendoon, Bungawalbin, Codrington, Coraki, Doonbah, Dungarubba, East Coraki, Ellangowan, Evans Head, Green Forest, Kilgin, Lismore, Caniaba, Marom Creek, Meerschaum Vale, New Italy, North Woodburn, Rileys Hill, Ruthven, South Evans Head, Swan Bay, Tabbimoble, The Gap, Trustums Hill, Tucki Tucki, Tuckurimba, Wardell, West Bungawalbin, West Coraki, Woodburn and surrounding areas.

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Originally published as Freak storm leaves schools closed, 10,600 homes, businesses without power in Northern Rivers