Hundreds of homes are flooded, and thousands are without power as a wild storm lashes Australia’s east coast.
Gale-force winds and heavy rain have caused chaos, downing trees, damaging properties, and flooding roads from southern NSW to the mid-north coast, including Sydney.
Floods and Evacuations
About 200 properties in Burrill Lake on the south coast were flooded overnight, with more than 200mm of rain smashing several towns, including Morton and Ulladulla.
The State Emergency Service (SES) received over 2300 calls in 24 hours to 9:30 am, with emergency crews pulling off seven flood rescues on the NSW south coast, all caused by people driving into floodwaters.
Coastal Erosion and Weather Warnings
Beachfront residents were told to evacuate as the powerful surf eroded the coast, with winds gusts and swells intensifying.
Communities from Queensland’s Lockyer Valley to Bega on NSW’s south coast are still being warned to take care as severe weather driven by a “vigorous” coastal low lingers offshore.
Damaging Winds and Rain
The storm, called a cyclone bomb, is expected to track south on Wednesday before turning back out into the Tasman Sea on Thursday.
Isolated totals up to 120mm remain possible, but conditions are expected to ease later in the day. There are 34 warnings current, with 335 properties subject to evacuation or shelter now warnings on the Central Coast and south coast.
Power Outages and Flight Cancellations
More than 37,000 homes and businesses are without power, and many flights have been cancelled from Sydney Airport for the second consecutive day.
Residents are being warned to stay out of the water as wind gusts and swells intensified, with beachfront properties heavily affected.
Clean-Up Efforts
As the storm passes, residents are preparing for a massive clean-up effort, with trees branches down and properties damaged.
Sydney’s Warragamba Dam is expected to spill in the coming days, however has not yet reached capacity after 56mm of rain in 24 hours.
The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting another low-pressure system to enter the storm’s path later on Wednesday, which will intensify and reinforce some of those winds and rain across the south coast.