Emergency authorities in New South Wales have issued a stark warning for residents not to attempt crossing flooded roads, as a severe storm system continues to lash Australia's east coast. The dangerous conditions have already claimed one life and triggered an evacuation order for parts of Sydney.
Evacuation Orders and Widespread Damage
An emergency warning was activated for Sydney's northern beaches on Sunday morning, with residents living near Narrabeen Lagoon and surrounding areas instructed to leave immediately. The intense rainfall has led to significant flooding, with numerous homes inundated and cars completely submerged across the city.
More than a dozen people have been rescued by emergency crews in Sydney. The situation was particularly dire at Great Mackerel Beach in the northern beaches region, where a landslide damaged multiple properties and left at least one woman injured.
Fatal Incident and Overwhelming Emergency Response
The storm system turned deadly on Saturday afternoon. A woman lost her life when a large tree branch fell onto her car on Macquarie Pass, south of Wollongong. NSW Police confirmed the woman was driving at the time of the incident. A male front-seat passenger sustained minor injuries, while two rear-seat passengers escaped physical harm.
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has been inundated with calls for assistance, receiving more than 800 requests for help after the heavy rain deluged the state. At least 750 SES volunteers were deployed to respond to callouts over the weekend, with the busiest units located across the south coast, Illawarra, Sydney, and Hunter regions.
Further Severe Weather Forecast
Senior meteorologist Edward Townsend-Medlock warned that the severe weather is not over. He forecast 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 witnessed on the Central Coast.
NSW SES spokeswoman Emily Barton stated that rain had been experienced "far and wide" across New South Wales. Clean-up efforts are ongoing, with crews focusing on the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, and Sydney metropolitan area on Sunday.
In addition to the flood threat, hazardous surf warnings remain in place for east coast beaches from Newcastle to Batemans Bay, as well as the Eden coast.
Wild Weather Extends to Queensland
The turbulent conditions also impacted south-east Queensland, where a band of thunderstorms dumped up to 60mm of rain, leaving approximately 11,000 properties without power. In the Lockyer Valley region, communities like Laidley and Brightview are still dealing with the aftermath, with over 2,000 properties without electricity after roofs were torn from homes and trees brought down.
Meanwhile, other Australian cities experienced contrasting conditions. Melbourne enjoyed sunny skies for the start of the Australian Open, with a high of 29°C forecast. Adelaide braced for a scorching 36°C, while storms were predicted for Darwin. Perth expected 27°C, Brisbane 30°C, and Hobart a milder 21°C.
