Sydney Experiences Record-Breaking Rainfall as NSW Whether Improves
Following several days of intense weather, teh bureau of Meteorology (BoM) reports conditions have eased across New South Wales. However, Sydney has just experienced one of its wettest Septembers on record, culminating in a historic rainfall event.
BoM has lifted severe weather warnings for the Mid North Coast, Hunter, and Northern Tablelands Forecast districts, and associated coastal hazard warnings have also been cancelled. Despite the improvement, a strong wind warning remains in effect for coastal areas including Sydney Enclosed Waters, the byron, Coffs, Macquarie, Hunter, Sydney, Illawarra, Batemans, and Eden Coasts.
according to Weatherzone, Sydney recorded 122mm of rainfall in the 24 hours leading up to 9am Thursday – the highest single-day rainfall total for September as 1879. This contributed to a remarkably wet month overall.
The heavy rainfall, which impacted the central NSW coast for three consecutive days, led to flooding in inner Sydney and water damage to properties in Wollongong. Rainfall continued into Thursday, with newport recording 122mm and Cronulla experiencing 147mm by 9am.
Emergency services were stretched thin responding to the deluge. The State Emergency Service (SES) received over 850 calls within a 24-hour period, primarily related to the heavy rain. A particularly busy 50-minute period on Wednesday saw a surge in calls from residents stranded in thier homes or vehicles caught in floodwaters.
A rescue operation was also conducted at Wattamolla, south of Sydney, on Wednesday afternoon to assist a group of hikers impacted by the heavy rainfall.
While the most severe weather has passed, residents are urged to remain cautious with ongoing warnings for damaging winds and hazardous surf along the NSW coastline.
