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

Concerns for flash flooding, falling trees as storms approach

The SES has warned flash flooding is likely and the potential for more trees to fall is "very high", but emergency services can't predict which areas will be worst hit.

NSW SES Assistant Commissioner Scott Hanckel said the flash flooding could occur "pretty much anywhere", and people needed to "stay vigilant" on the roads throughout the rest of Wednesday.

Mr Hanckel said people should limit travel to essential travel only, and reminded motorists to always avoid driving through floodwater.

Storm damage across Sydney.Credit:Ausgrid

Suburbs worst hit by rain

Reporter Josh Dye has taken a look at what suburbs have been sort hit by today's rain.

Mosman (136mm), the Sydney CBD (120mm) and Chatswood (106mm) all topped 100mm, while Abbotsford in the inner west received 97mm.

But the worst could be still to come, with the bureau issuing a severe thunderstorm warning for large hailstones and heavy rainfall in Sydney and most of coastal NSW.

Read his full report here.

SES step up operations as hail, damaging winds threaten

The SES says it has “ramped up” operations in preparation for more heavy rain this afternoon.

More than 70 SES crews - about 300 volunteers - are currently out in the field, an SES spokesman said, as they prepare for more heavy rain and destructive wind this afternoon.

The weather is expected to get worse again this afternoon, with large hail and damaging winds forecast in the next few hours.Credit:David Porter

“We have more rain coming this afternoon which will pose a significant flash flood risk so people need to prepare and make plans," he said.

The SES spokesman urged homeowners to tarp, sandbag or put towels around their homes in preparation for this afternoon’s heavy rainfall.

So far today, the SES has received 876 calls for help, mostly for storm damage including leaking roofs and fallen trees.

He said 13 flood rescues have also been requested throughout the day.

“The number is really quite concerning, so we want to push a message to urge people not to drive through flood water,” the SES spokesman said.

“People driving in the peak rain this afternoon need to keep clear of low lying areas, and should not park their vehicles under trees or power lines.”

Bus wait down to 30 minutes, trains still delayed

The wait for buses has dropped to 30 minutes, after a large number of services across the city experienced delays of up to 70 minutes earlier today.

Lewisham station remains flooded, and a Traffic Management Centre spokesman said a number of train lines were still affected by the weather.

The T1 North Shore, Northern and Western Line was experiencing delays, the spokesman said, as well as the T2 Inner West and Leppington Line, the T3 Bankstown Line and the T8 Airport and South Line.

Dam levels rising thanks to rain

Sydney's dam levels are on the rise after the wild thunderstorms, with high rainfall recorded at both Warragamba and Nepean.

A WaterNSW spokesman said while they will have a better idea on the change in dam levels in the afternoon, they are confident about what they have seen so far.

“Based on the falls we have experienced so far, we are really optimistic about what those inflows to the dams will translate to,” he said.

Storm damage so far

For those of you just joining, here's a bit of a recap of what's happened so far today.

One person has died and two police officers have been injured in separate flood-related incidents around Sydney
Sydney has copped more than 118 millimetres of rain since 5.20am, with more expected this afternoon
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast severe thunderstorms with large hail and damaging winds in the next several hours
A number of roads have been flooded as well as some homes, and a school on the south coast has been damaged by the storm
Flood warnings have been issued for the Cooks, the Hawkesbury-Nepean and the Georges Rivers
Emergency services and Ausgrid crews have been out in force, with more than 10 flood rescues and thousands of homes and businesses left without power.

Stay tuned for more updates as the storm continues.

Sydney has received more than 118 millimetres of rain today.Credit:Louise Kennerley

Another rainy November day...

... But from more than 30 years ago.

Our librarians have dug up this photo of flooding at Broadway from 1984, which looks similar to the flooding around Glebe from this morning.

Thunderstorms could bring hail, forecasters say

The Bureau of Meteorology has updated its severe thunderstorm warning, saying the severe thunderstorms which have already brought a month's worth of rain could also bring hail.

The bureau says severe thunderstorms, from Sydney's coast from the south coast to the northern rivers, could bring large hailstorms and damaging winds in the next several hours.

Since 5.30am, Sydney has received 118.8 millimetres of rain, with flooding across the city.

About 6600 homes and businesses remain without power

Ausgrid is working to restore power to 6600 customers as the storm wreaks havoc on the power network.

In Chatswood, a tree brought down powerlines over the road. A tree on powerlines has also affected power supply in Roseville.

Ausgrid said the earlier power outage in East Ryde, North Ryde and Marsfield had been fixed.

Anzac Bridge reopened

By Sarah Keoghan

Anzac Bridge has been reopened after westbound lanes were closed this morning due to flooding.

Diversions onto Pyrmont Bridge Road have also been lifted, but traffic remains very heavy.

Vehicles driving slowly on water logged Bridge Road, Glebe.Credit:Louise Kennerley

Pittwater Road has also reopened southbound at Epping Road, as well as Parramatta Rd which has also been reopened in both directions after earlier closures.

Roads continue to be closed across the city, with Eastern Valley Way in Castle Cove currently closed in both directions due to a fallen tree and wires.

Oxford Fall Road is also closed between Wakehurst Parkway and Avoona Road.

Further south, the Illawarra Highway remains closed at Macquarie Pass in both directions due to the flooding.