Flash Flooding Impacts sydney as SES Responds to Hundreds of Calls
sydney, NSW – Heavy rainfall has caused flash flooding across Sydney and surrounding regions, prompting a surge in calls for assistance to the NSW State Emergency Service (SES). As of Wednesday, the SES had received 850 calls for help, with crews working to rescue stranded individuals and respond to flood-related emergencies.
On Wednesday, the SES successfully rescued a group of bushwalkers sheltering in the Royal National Park at Wattamolla. According to NSW SES spokesperson Kiara Magnussen, “The flood rescue operators traversed the river using an Ark Angel raft and they hiked 800 metres to get to where the bushwalkers were sheltering. They then walked the bushwalkers to safety and assisted them to cross the flood waters in the [raft].”
As of 9am Wednesday, Observatory Hill recorded 104.8 millimetres of rain, while Sydney Airport received 83.2mm. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) forecasts wet and damaging wind conditions will continue through Thursday morning before easing.
Heavy rainfall and damaging wind gusts up to 90 kilometres per hour are expected to impact the Hunter, Mid North Coast and Northern Tablelands regions until Thursday afternoon. Hazardous surf conditions are also anticipated along the northern and central coasts, increasing the risk of coastal erosion. Further heavy rain is possible in the Illawarra, south coast and Southern Tablelands into Friday.
The BOM cancelled a severe weather warning for the metropolitan area, Illawarra, south coast and Southern Tablelands on Thursday morning. However, a warning remains in place as of 8am Thursday for heavy rainfall and damaging winds across parts of the Illawarra, Mid North Coast, metropolitan area, south coast, Southern Tablelands, Northern Tablelands and the Hunter forecast districts.