Emergency services are working day and night to handle extensive damage throughout the eastern coast of Australia as a strong coastal storm keeps causing destruction, causing roads to flood, toppling trees, and leaving tens of thousands of people without electricity.
The storm, which was originally referred to as a “bomb cyclone,” strengthened overnight on Tuesday, bringing over 150mm of rain to areas of coastal New South Wales (NSW) and releasing wind gusts of up to 125kmph. Hazardous conditions, including damaging winds and hazardous surf, were expected to continue into Thursday, with gusts in the interior reaching 100kmph, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
A coastal hazard alert continues for the whole NSW coast, with waves of up to seven metres likely to cause extreme erosion from Seal Rocks through to the Victorian border. Flooding is a rising threat as rivers throughout Sydney’s west and the state’s south coast swell. Flood warnings were issued for locations such as Camden, Penrith, and North Richmond, as the Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers are rising quickly.
Sydney’s primary reservoir, Warragamba Dam, is almost at capacity and will spill by Thursday morning, WaterNSW forecasted a moderate overflow of as much as 60 gigalitres a day, although actual rates rely on continued rain.
Power disruptions hit around 30,000 households and businesses. Endeavour Energy recorded about 400 electrical hazards due to downed power lines and trees, with about 9,000 customers remaining without electricity as of Wednesday evening.
Transport systems also came under serious disruption. Sydney Airport cancelled 140 flights Wednesday, after 145 on Tuesday. Downed trees and power outages halted major train services, and ferry services across Sydney Harbour were largely brought to a halt.
Emergency workers have attended to almost 3,400 incidents, including 10 flood rescues. Meteorologists believe the storm will wind down by late Thursday, but residents are warned to stay watchful as conditions remain hazardous.
