Dangerous weather lashes Sydney, regional NSW
More than 20 people have been rescued from floodwaters in Sydney’s inner west after a downpour that dropped up to 88mm of rain on parts of the city, causing traffic chaos, flooding train stations and causing flight diversions.
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More than 20 people have been rescued from floodwaters in Sydney’s inner west after a downpour that dropped up to 88mm of rain on parts of the city.
The NSW State Emergency Service attended 688 incidents, including 380 in the Sydney metropolitan area, between 12pm and 1.30pm on Monday.
An SES spokeswoman described the inner west as the worst-affected area in the state, telling The Daily Telegraph it had been the scene of 21 flood rescues in less than two hours.
“(That) is quite a significant number for such a small area,” she said.
Earlier, emergency services were advising Sydneysiders to “stay home”as the lunchtime storm hammered the city, causing chaos in the CBD and inner west, while western Sydney and the regions copped a drenching.
The extreme weather flooded train stations, inundated cars and caused flight diversions, while giant hailstones fell in the state’s southwest.
In Sydney, cars were washed away at Glebe and Leichhardt, while some flights were diverted from landing at Sydney Airport.
A 10am Virgin flight from Melbourne circled the sky above Sydney Airport for several minutes attempting to land until it was forced to divert to Canberra to refuel.
A passenger said: “The pilot announced it was too dangerous to land in Sydney due to the inclement weather and had been trying to land for some minutes.
“He then announced they would need to refuel in Canberra as it was the closest airport to Sydney because they were low on fuel.
“We’re currently stuck at Canberra until it’s safe to land in Sydney.”
The wild weather has caused traffic chaos: there was significant flooding reported at Cecil Hills, with Elizabeth Drive underwater at Wallgrove Road on the M7.
Two vehicles, including a van, were stuck at one stage in the floodwaters.
Eastbound traffic was experiencing delays extending beyond Duff Road and towards Mamre Road, while the M7 southbound was also heavily congested from Eastern Creek through to Elizabeth Drive.
In Manly, Balgowlah Road was among the roads flooded.
At Rooty Hill, two cars were stranded in floodwaters on North Parade at Sherbrooke Street, with Fire and Rescue crews on the scene.
The M4 was impacted in both directions, with slow-moving traffic from Homebush Bay Drive through to the Cumberland Highway.
âš ï¸Heavy to intense rainfall and flash flooding is possible with a slow moving, very dangerous thunderstorm near Horsely Park and Liverpool in #Sydney. pic.twitter.com/9BbSPpMBCi
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) February 10, 2025
Meteorologist Dean Narramore said eastern and central parts of NSW would experience heavy falls that would continue until Tuesday.
“We could see widespread falls of 25mm to 50mm through … much of eastern NSW,” he said.
“And we could see even heavier falls through parts of central and southeastern parts of NSW, particularly where those storms tend to heavy rainfall and that can lead to flash and possible riverine flooding.”
A 30-minute burst of intense rainfall hit Goulburn about 5am, measuring 28mm.
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