One man dead, more Sydney train chaos as towns pick up pieces after storms lash NSW

Wild weather has lashed large parts of the state, killing a man in western NSW, cutting power and adding to the pain of stranded Sydney commuters as they struggle to get home after a chaotic day on the city’s rail network.

Wild weather has lashed large parts of the state, killing a man in western NSW, cutting power to more than 100,000 homes and adding to the pain of stranded Sydney commuters as they struggle to get home after a chaotic day on the city’s rail network.

More than 120,000 homes in the Sydney region were left without power on Wednesday night, with online outage trackers showing some 52,000 affected customers on the Endeavour Energy network and about 70,000 more with Ausgrid.

Some of the outages were in Oatley West, where a tree fell on power lines.

Meanwhile, train services were paused between Epping and Hornsby, on the T9 line, after a tree fell onto wiring at Normanhurst on Wednesday night.

“Trains going away from the city will end at Epping,” Transport for NSW said in a statement.

Lightning over Nattai Ponds in the NSW Southern Highlands. Picture: David Hofman

“Limited buses that have been organised due to protected industrial action are currently operating between Hornsby and Strathfield.”

The rest of the city was not spared, with authorities being slammed by more than a call a minute across the Sydney metropolitan area at one stage.

A storm rolls into Newcastle on Wednesday. Picture: Cintta Brodbeck

At least 238 calls for assistance were made across the Sydney basin in the three hours to 9pm on Wednesday.

The worst-hit area was Hornsby, with 38 jobs.

State Emergency Service intelligence and warnings officer David Pedersen said most calls were for trees down and leaking roofs, although there had been multiple reports of roofs being blown off buildings in the Hawkesbury area.

Dr Pedersen said there had been 943 calls for assistance across NSW from midnight to 9pm on Wednesday.

Large parts of NSW were smashed by wild weather. Picture: Bureau of Meteorology

Storms have wreaked havoc across NSW. Picture: Bureau of Meteorology

The worst area hit was around Wagga Wagga, where crews had been called to 186 jobs.

These included destructive winds across towns like Bomen, in the Riverina, where shipping containers had been blown over.

There has not been any reported flood rescues.

In Sydney’s inner west, spectacular video from Leichhardt showed repeated flashes of lightning just seconds apart.

“There’s been constant lightning for at least 20 minutes,” a resident told The Daily Telegraph. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

A set of stairs at Town Hall Station, in the Sydney CBD, during the storms. Picture: Instagram

Meanwhile, a set of stairs at Town Hall Station, the scene of earlier train chaos, looked more like a waterfall, with a picture posted on Instagram showing rain surging down steps to be met with multiple “wet floor” signs.

Large parts of NSW were lashed by winds of up to 120km/h, prompting authorities to issue flood warnings for several areas.

The wild weather had earlier turned deadly in Cowra, where a motorist, believed to be in his 80s, died when a tree fell on his car as he drove along Lachlan Valley Way about 3.50pm.

The death followed the State Emergency Service reporting multiple people had been injured when powerful winds flipped the demountable huts they were camping in at Bomen, in the Riverina.

The NSW State Emergency Service received nearly 1000 calls before 9pm on Wednesday.

Elsewhere, a roof was ripped completely off at Culcairn and a number of trees crashed onto vehicles at Tarcutta.

A wall of powerful storms tore through most of western NSW and onto the east coast during the afternoon, with 120km/h winds recorded at Trangie, just west of Dubbo, at 4.30pm.

Winds exceeding 100km/h were also recorded at Dubbo, Mullion, Bombala, Cowra, Walgett, Cabramurra and Wagga.

Some 31mm of rain smashed Araluen, on the south coast, in just 30 minutes while 30mm hit Bowning, on the south west slopes, during the same period.

The storm also smashed parts of the Hunter, with chaotic scenes at the Elbourne Wines vineyard showcasing the sheer destruction of the extreme weather event.

The owners posted a video on Wednesday night showing gazebos and chairs flying across a field at the Pokolbin property in gale force winds, with heavy rain pouring down.

“Unbelievable scenes at the vineyard here with plenty of gale force winds and lightning, we’ll inspect the damage in the morning but thankfully very little hail on the vineyards so close to picking (season),” the owners wrote.

The weather prompted the SES to warn holidaymakers camping near rivers and creeks on the Central Coast, Mid North Coast and North Coast to prepare for severe weather.

Most of the incidents were wind-related, such as fallen trees and powerlines.

A fallen tree in Oatley West, in Sydney’s south. Picture: Supplied

Locally heavy rain, flash flooding, hail and damaging winds was expected to continue through to Thursday across much of NSW.

Severe thunderstorms were set to combine with a low pressure weather system that was expected to bring locally significant rain from Thursday through to Saturday.

Widespread rain of 30-80mm is expected, with some localised higher totals between 100-200mm of rain possible.

Friday is estimated to be the peak day for rain.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a flood watch for the Orara, Coffs Coast, Bellinger and Kalang River catchments, Manning and Gloucester, Myall River, Karuah River, Wollombi Brook and Lower Hunter, and Paterson and Williams River, with minor flooding possible.

The NSW SES senior manager of state operations, Chief Superintendent Dallas Burnes, said it was important holidaymakers were aware of the forecast and made smart decisions ahead of poor weather.

“Now is the time to have a chat to your families and make decisions if you still wish to camp in locations near creeks and rivers,” Chief Supt Burnes said.

“We may see rapid river level rises and flash flooding which will make things challenging should you try and leave.

“Strong winds could bring down trees and powerlines, as well as cause damage to properties.

“You could find yourself bogged, and in need of assistance.

“If you plan to leave those areas and camp at higher locations, you should relocate today, before the onset of poor weather.”

For the latest warning and information visit ses.nsw.gov.au or download the Hazards Near Me App.

For assistance during floods, storms and tsunamis, call the NSW SES on 132 500.

If the situation is life-threatening, call triple-0 (000).

Originally published as One man dead, more Sydney train chaos as towns pick up pieces after storms lash NSW