Heavy rain and storms hit Sydney causing commuter chaos - The Sydney Morning Herald

More than 8100 without power due to storm

More than 8100 homes and businesses are without power as a massive storm cell sweeps the coast of NSW.

An Ausgrid spokesman said as of 8.15am, more than 8100 customers in Sydney's CBD, northern Sydney and the Central Coast were affected by power outages. The main areas impacted are parts of the CBD, Ryde, North Ryde, St Ives, North Turramurra, Marsfield, and Blue Haven on the Central Coast.

Weather. Johnson creek, Annandale, floods as an east coast low envelops Sydney.Credit:Dave Porter

The spokesman said Ausgrid was been monitoring the situation and had extra crews on standby.

School closed due to bad weather

A private school in Sydney's south-west has closed today because of the wild weather.

Georges River Grammar said it decided to close the school on the advice of emergency services "for the safety of all staff students and parents".

"We urge you not to go on the roads today," the school wrote on Facebook. "Please stay home and stay safe."

There are no reports of any public schools closing today due to the storms.

Airport down to single runway operations, flights delayed, cancelled

Sydney Airport's domestic and international terminals are on single runway operations due to the storm.

A Sydney Airport spokeswoman said the airport had been operating on a single runway since 7am, because of storm cells and lightning in the area and winds around the airport reaching 70km/h.

While flights are taking off and landing the spokeswoman said there are delays and cancellations across both terminals, with the domestic terminal the most affected.

Passengers are strongly advised to check with their airlines on their flight status before they arrive at the airport.

Ferry services cancelled due to rain

By Sarah Keoghan

Ferries have been affected by the wild weather, with F3 Parramatta River services cancelled due to overflowing at the weir.

Replacement buses have been organised and will travel from Rydalmere to Parramatta and then to Sydney Olympic Park.

All other ferries services are currently running but are experiencing delays, a Transport Management Centre spokesman said.

Water pours out of walls at Town Hall Woolworths

By James Lemon

You had to feel for the two workers who were no doubt asked to "do something" about the water spraying out of the walls at Woolworths Town Hall.

Sandbags had been deployed to keep the flow out of the supermarket, but the sheer volume of liquid finding its way across the pavement clearly wasn't ideal.

Some nearby Australia Post cartons were introduced to try to contain the deluge but it quickly became clear they were no match for the endless supply of water.

Soon the cartons were discarded and one of the workers took to the tiles with a hammer - in what first appeared to be in frustration - but the removal of some wall allowed the water to come through at a higher volume and lowered the pressure.

Light Rail services cancelled between Central and Dulwich Hill

All light rail services have now been cancelled.

Transport NSW said services both ways between Central and Dulwich Hill have been cancelled due to flooding.

Replacement buses have been ordered but are not on site yet, and passengers have been advised to either delay their trip or allow extra travel time.

SES urge drivers to avoid flood waters

By Sarah Keoghan

The SES has already received six flood rescue request across Sydney as more than 80 millimetres has already hit the city.

SES help has been requested from Marrickville, West Ryde, Silverwater, Macquarie Park, and two have needed assistance at West Pymble.

Overnight, NSW SES volunteers attended more than 115 jobs due to storm damage and leaking roofs.

The SES is urging people to not enter flood waters and to find an alternative route instead of driving through flash flooding.

Sydney Observatory Hill has already hit the monthly average

In less than two hours, the Observatory Hill weather station recorded its November monthly average rainfall.

Weatherzone tweeted that between 5.20am and 7am the Observatory Hill recorded 84.6 millimetres. The November average is 83.8 millimetres.

Sydney has already hit the November average rainfall.Credit:Sarah Keoghan

Streets turn to rivers around Sydney

Police are warning people to stay out of floodwater as flash flooding hits the city.

In Redfern, streets were turned into rivers as the deluge hit early on Wednesday morning, inundating cars parked along the street.

Streets in Glebe were also flooded with parked cars bogged in the water.

The rain caused flash flooding in Glebe on Wednesday morning.Credit:Nathanael Cooper

Train services now affected by wild weather

Buses, the light rail and commuter traffic has been affected already, and now trains are feeling the impact of the bad weather.

T3 services in both directions between Sydenham and Campsie have been suspended due to flooding at Marrickville, and buses are being sourced to replace trains but there is currently no estimated time of arrival.

T1 services are affected due to station flooding, with Pymble, Wollstonecraft, West Ryde and Eastwood stations closed.