Emergency services in New South Wales are battling a severe weather crisis, with residents on Sydney's northern beaches ordered to evacuate as torrential rain causes widespread flooding and has claimed at least one life.
Evacuation Orders and Widespread Damage
An urgent evacuation directive was issued for areas around Narrabeen Lagoon on Sydney's northern beaches on Sunday morning. The State Emergency Service (SES) has been inundated with more than 800 calls for assistance after intense rainfall lashed the state.
The scale of the damage is significant. Across Sydney, more than a dozen people have been rescued from dangerous situations. Numerous homes have been flooded and cars completely submerged. In a particularly severe incident at Great Mackerel Beach, a landslide damaged multiple properties and left at least one woman injured.
The storm system turned fatal on Saturday afternoon when a large tree branch fell onto a car on Macquarie Pass, south of Wollongong. A woman, who was driving the vehicle, died at the scene. A male front-seat passenger sustained minor injuries, while two rear-seat passengers escaped physical harm.
More Rain on the Horizon as Clean-Up Begins
Senior meteorologist Edward Townsend-Medlock has warned that the severe weather is not over. He forecasts more heavy rainfall from Sydney's northern suburbs through to the Hunter coast on Sunday morning, with the potential for severe thunderstorm cells similar to those seen on the Central Coast.
In response, at least 750 SES volunteers are on the ground, with the busiest units operating across the south coast, Illawarra, Sydney, and Hunter regions. NSW SES spokeswoman Emily Barton confirmed the rain had been widespread, and crews would focus clean-up efforts on Sunday in the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, and Sydney metropolitan area.
Authorities have issued a stern warning for the public not to attempt crossing flooded roads. Hazardous surf warnings also remain in place for beaches from Newcastle to Batemans Bay, as well as the Eden coast.
Wild Weather Extends to Queensland
The stormy conditions have also impacted south-east Queensland, where a band of thunderstorms dumped up to 60mm of rain. The wild weather left approximately 11,000 properties without power at its peak, with over 2,000 homes in the Lockyer Valley region still in the dark after roofs were torn off and trees brought down.
In stark contrast, southern cities are experiencing summer heat. Melbourne is set for a high of 29C for the Australian Open, while Adelaide braces for a scorching 36C. Storms are forecast for Darwin, with Perth, Brisbane, and Hobart expecting milder conditions.
