This was published 4 years ago
Power restored to thousands after 100mm of rain falls in northern Sydney
By Mary Ward and Matt Bungard
Thousands woke up without power on Monday and a number of roads were flooded after parts of the city recorded 100 millimetres of rain over the weekend.
The State Emergency Service responded to more than 400 calls for assistance between Friday and Monday – more than 150 of which were in the Sydney and Blue Mountains area – following flooding and damaging winds as a low-pressure system brought a wet end to a previously dry October.
Heavy rainfall caused a tree in Blaxland fall on a house.Credit: Edwina Pickles
The Wakehurst Parkway was closed in both directions from Oxford Falls to North Narrabeen due to flooding until mid-afternoon.
However, Oxford Falls Road remained closed between Wakehurst Parkway and Aroona Road at 4pm.
A previous incident at Galston, involving a rockfall near the Galston Road bridge, was cleared by 8am.
Ausgrid crews restored power in South Turramurra, Turramurra and West Pymble on the upper north shore as well as Belrose, Frenchs Forest, Avalon Beach, Bilgola and Bilgola Plateau on the northern beaches after residents woke up without power on Monday.
At Wahroonga, about 115 millimetres of rain fell between Friday evening and Monday morning. Most of the rain came on Sunday, with 76 millimetres falling between 9am on Sunday and 6.30am on Monday. Only 10 millimetres fell from 9am onwards as conditions improved.
Nearby in Hornsby there were similar totals: the suburb received 75 millimetres since 9am on Sunday for a total of 112 millimetres over the course of the downpour.
On the northern beaches, 73 millimetres fell at Terrey Hills since 9am on Sunday and 112 millimetres was recorded across the weekend.
While most of Sydney remained wet but not soaked from 9am onwards, there were huge totals in northern parts of the state – the highest being at Wallis Lake on the mid-north coast, which had 279 millimetres.
Sydney has received up to 100mm of rain over the weekend. Credit: Nick Moir
Manly F1 ferry services were replaced with buses due to the weather conditions, before resuming just after 3pm - but Manly Fast ferries and Bundeena ferries were still not running and Palm Beach ferries were diverting to Patonga due to the large swell.
Ferry services between Parramatta and Rydalmere were replaced with buses because of the weir overflowing.
The heavy rain activated track safety monitors at Wondabyne prompting delays on the Central Coast Line.
Consistent rain also fell in the city and eastern suburbs. At Little Bay 40 millimetres was recorded on Sunday, bringing the total to 96 millimetres as of 6.30am.
Experts predict the rain to continue for most of the week.Credit: Rhett Wyman
About 6.30pm on Monday, the Bureau of Meterology cancelled a severe storm warning as the front looked to finally move away.
SES volunteers responded to three flood rescues at the weekend, including of two horses stuck in rapidly rising waters at Ourimbah on the Central Coast and a man in his ute at Tumbarumba in the state's south-west.
State Emergency Operations Controller, Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys reminded members of the public not to travel through floodwaters, to drive to conditions and to stay away from creeks and stormwater drains.
"It has been a while since we’ve had significant rainfall so I also want to remind all road users to take extra care," he said.
Light rain is forecast for Sydney until Friday, although conditions are expected to ease significantly on Monday evening and little rain is forecast on Tuesday, Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Shuang Wang said.
A gale wind warning is in place for Sydney's coast and the Hunter and Illawarra coasts on Monday. A strong wind warning is in place for Sydney's closed waters. A hazardous surf warning is also in place.
Outside Sydney, the highest falls were seen in the Central Coast to Newcastle region, where some areas received more than 200 millimetres over the weekend. Mount Elliott recorded 202 millimetres over the weekend, 146 millimetres of which fell on Sunday.
A severe weather warning was in place for parts of the Hunter on Monday, with heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding possible during the day and wind gusts of up to 90km/h possible on the coast.
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