Power restored after heatwave scorches NSW, cool change brings relief

Emergency crews are racing to restore power to hundreds across Sydney’s Northern Beaches after intense heat put pressure on the grid.

Power has been restored to thousands of residents across NSW on Wednesday morning after soaring temperatures on Tuesday put pressure on the energy grid.

More than 1900 residents in Gosford on the Central Coast and 1800 in the Homebush, Strathfield, Flemington, and Sydney Olympic Park areas woke in the dark on Wednesday morning, but power was restored shortly after 8am.

Another 700 customers across Sydney’s Northern Beaches in suburbs including Church Point, Scotland Island, Ingleside, Bayview, Elvina Bay and Mccarrs Creek were also without power up until about 9.30am.

It comes as State Emergency Services responded to 140 incidents across the state overnight after an evening storm lashed several parts of NSW.

“A strong southerly buster brought windy conditions to much of the coastline, including the Sydney Metropolitan area, yesterday afternoon,” an SES spokesperson said.

“While the southerly buster itself remained below the damaging winds thresholds, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued for two thunderstorms in the Illawarra/Southern Highlands and Hunter/Central Coast.

Khaoi, Amora and Jay Davies, cooling off at Penrith Beach on Tuesday as Sydney hits 42 degrees. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“Close to 140 incidents were recorded for storm damage, with the majority relating to fallen trees, branches or powerlines with the vast majority completed by SES crews overnight.

“In Metro Sydney itself, NSW SES crews responded to 128 incidents for trees down, leaking skylights and dislodged roof tiles.”

The sizzling weather which scorched parts of NSW over the past two days will ease up today, with temperatures tipped to drop by nearly 10C as a pre-Christmas cool change sweeps in.

The city’s mercury hit 33C yesterday, while West Richmond recorded a high of 41.7C.

Up to 2500 homes and businesses lost power in parts of Bankstown in the morning, while last night more than 6000 residents in Randwick, Eastwood and Concord West were plunged into darkness.

A bushfire broke out in Lower Portland in the Hawkesbury, but firefighters got the blaze under control by mid afternoon.

A cool snap will send temperatures down to 24C in the CBD today, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, with a chance of thunderstorms.

Monique Tropiano and Liam Beirne cooling off at the beach. Picture: Tim Hunter

“Southeast winds along the coast will bring a few showers as well particularly through the first half of the day, ” meteorologist Angus Hines said.

The Australian Energy Market Operator was aided by unexpected coastal winds – which eased temperatures and reduced demand – while storms that were set to arrive during the evening are now set to soak NSW several hours earlier.

With demand tempered, AEMO data showed coal generation was producing just over half of NSW’s energy needs – up slightly from normal levels during the afternoon – which was sufficient for AEMO to cancel a high threat alert to the market, The Australian revealed.

Warm, clear skies will return on Friday and Saturday, before overcast conditions are forecast for the days leading up to Christmas.

While they cooled off with a dip at Penrith Beach or ‘Pondi’ yesterday, Liam Beirnes and Monique Tropiano said the weather won’t put a wrench in their plans come December 25.

“It will still be the same just as long as family’s there,” Mr Beirnes said.

SOARING TUESDAY TEMPERATURES

Almost 5000 homes are without power tonight across Sydney after extreme heat smashed western Sydney on Wednesday, with bushfires sparked and temperatures into the 40s.

More than 3000 homes in the suburb of Eastwood as well as parts of Riverview, Lane Cove, Gladesville, Denistone, Padstow, and Caringbah South were without power about 8pm on Tuesday evening, according to Ausgrid’s outage map.

Earlier outages also impacted Randwick, Concord West and Bankstown, where 2500 homes and businesses lost power just before temperatures hit their heights.

Parts of Bankstown were restored by 11.45am.

An Ausgrid spokesperson told NewsWire the cause was unclear and the outage was considered minor, while the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) said the power cut was not related to supply.

Severe Weather Update: Cool change for NSW today, severe storms a risk.

Video current: 12pm AEDT 17 December 2024.

Latest forecasts and warnings: https://t.co/4W35o8iFmh or the BOM Weather app. pic.twitter.com/n2R5Id7tmx

— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) December 17, 2024

A bushfire broke out in Lower Portland in the Hawkesbury, but firefighters got the blaze under control by midafternoon.

But a cool snap will see temperatures plummet down to 24C in the CBD today, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, with a chance of thunderstorms.

“Southeast winds along the coast will bring a few showers as well particularly through the first half of the day – not a lot of rain, perhaps one to five millimetres for many areas,” Meteorologist Angus Hines said.

Warm, clear skies will return on Friday and Saturday, before overcast conditions are forecast for the days leading up to Christmas Day.

Severe thunderstorms were forecast for parts of The Central Coast and Illawarra in the evening after parts of NSW reached their hottest temperatures this year, with Penrith reaching 41.7C and Bankstown 39.2C.

Temperatures are tipped to drop by nearly 10C as a pre-Christmas cool change sweeps in.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Jiwon Park said Wednesday would bring a significantly cooler change.

“There will be a 10 to 15 degree temperature drop for relief in the short term,” he said.

Sydneysiders escaping the heatwave on Sunday at Shark Beach, Vaucluse. Picture: NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

A hot air mass travelling southeast was behind the low to severe intensity heatwave across much of NSW and the ACT.

On Monday Canberra experienced its hottest day in almost five years with 38C or 39C — ‘severe’ conditions.

The central tablelands, central west, south west, Riverina, lower western and southern tablelands felt the burn with temperatures from the high 30s to low 40s.

Sydney on Monday had a top of 36.9C in Penrith and 29C in the city centre, the hottest area of NSW was in the state’s far west, where Smithville recorded a top of 45.9C and Ivanhoe reached 45.4C.

The Huntley family on their property called Strathavon Station near Ivanhoe NSW where it is 47 degrees today., From left is Harlow (7) and Maya (5) and Isla (12),

BEATING THE HEAT OUT WEST

The Huntley family from Ivanhoe used creative measures to stay cool, with kids Isla, Harlow and Maya and dog Dusty making good use of their animals’ water trough on the “hot, windy and dusty” day.

“We hopped in the sheep trough to cool down. It was 45 here in Ivanhoe … it gets quite hot in the summer time,” mum Kim Huntley said.

Beth Graham and Georgia Stewart with Rufus and Rubble, at Rose Bay, on Monday. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

In the city, Beth Graham beat the heat by having a ball with her furry companion Rubble in Rose Bay.

“I just came down to Rose Bay beach to go for a swim and throw the ball around with my dog Rubble. There were heaps of people bringing all their puppies down to the beach,” she said.

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Originally published as Power restored after heatwave scorches NSW, cool change brings relief