A person has died in Sydney’s north as today’s wild weather took a tragic turn.
Two cars collided in Thornleigh, killing one of the occupants. Two police officers have also injured when a tree fell on their car.
Elsewhere there’s chaos on Sydney’s roads, public transport networks and airport because of the torrential storm lashing the city.
Confused commuters say they are being turned away from airport terminals, walking into blacked out train stations and suffering major delays on the city’s roads, buses and ferries.
About 9am this morning, emergency services were called to a two-vehicle crash in Thornleigh, and found a male passenger had died at the scene.
The car’s other occupants, both also male, have been taken to Westmead Hospital in a stable condition.
The two injured police officers were called to the buy Pittwater Road in North Ryde, in the city’s north, at 6.50am this morning, when a tree fell on two of the officers and a vehicle.
A male constable sustained minor injuries and a female constable sustained serious injuries, including a suspected broken leg.
She was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics and has been taken to Royal North Shore hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Heavy rainfall has caused flash flooding — with more than 100mm of rain falling during the commute — causing major disruptions on the city’s roads in time for peak hour.
The SES has received 200 calls for help and rescued stranded drivers at West Pymble, Silverwater and Macquarie Park.
Roads are quickly becoming rivers in parts of Ultimo, Mascot, Roseville and Thornleigh.
NSW Police said drivers, riders, cyclists and pedestrians needed to take extra care, increase their visibility with headlights and bright clothing and increase braking distances.
“We’re asking all road users to perhaps reconsider the need to be on the road through what will be a severe rain event,” Chief Inspector Phillip Brooks told reporters on Tuesday.
CHAOS ON THE ROADS
NSW Traffic & Highway Patrol Commander Michael Corboy said the conditions on Sydney’s roads this morning are atrocious.
“The conditions we are experiencing today are some of the worst I’ve ever seen, and I am appealing to everyone, motorists and pedestrians alike, to take care,” he said.
Already two of three northbound lanes on Warringah Road on Roseville Bridge have been closed due to flooding.
A spokesman for Sydney’s Transport Management Centre told news.com.au numerous sets of traffic lights either blacked out or flashing yellow across the city — including at Macquarie Park, West Pymble, Epping, Rouse Hill and Burwood.
To make matters worse the Sydney Harbour Tunnel was closed citybound overnight due to an overweight vehicle — it has now been reopened but drivers this morning are being asked to allow extra travel time extra time as traffic returns to normal.
There are also major delays citybound at Pyrmont on the Western Distributor approaching Pyrmont Bridge Road due to a car breakdown.
One of four northbound lanes is closed on Wattle Street in Ultimo at Thomas Street.
In Macquarie Park, the M2 westbound on-ramp from Lane Cove Road is closed. Motorists should use the Delhi Road on-ramp instead. Additionally, westbound traffic is being affected on Epping Road at Whiteside Street, North Ryde as well as Lane Cove Road southbound at Waterloo Road
Westbound traffic is being affected by flooding and a landslide on the Great Western Highway in Springwood just past Macquarie Road.
Drivers are urged to exercise caution southbound on Spit Rd at Parriwi Rd in Mosman due to flooding and a landslide.
Motorists are reminded to never drive through floodwaters.
OTHER ROADS TO AVOID
Centenary Drive just past the Hume Highway at Strathfield: Northbound traffic is heavy on due to a multi-vehicle crash.
Pittwater Rd remains closed southbound at Epping Road in North Ryde: Use Wicks Rd instead.
Eastern Valley Way is closed in both directions at Boundary St due to a fallen tree and wires at Castle Cove. Use Boundary St, Pacific Hwy and Gore Hill Fwy instead.
Traffic is heavy on Forest Way at Naree Rd in Frenchs Forest due to a crash.
One of two westbound lanes is closed on Old South Head Rd at Curlewis St in Bondi due to a truck breakdown.
Eastern Valley Way is closed northbound at Boundary St in Castle Cove due to a fallen tree and wires.
Heavy northbound traffic on Cowpasture Rd at North Liverpool Rd in Green Valley due to a two-car crash.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Chaotic scenes are also emerging from across the city’s train stations.
There are delays of up to 70 minutes on a number of bus services — including Chatswood, Neutral Bay and Mosman services, the Homebush, Strathfield, Drummoyne, and Rozelle buses, and Randwick, Kensington, Alexandria, Beaconsfield, Zetland and Macquarie Park services.
Buses in the CBD are also delayed by up to 45 minutes.
Light rail services between Central Station and Dulwich Hill have been suspended due to flooding in Capitol Square, leaving dozens of passengers stranded this morning. Replacement buses are being organised but are yet to arrive.
At Strathfield, one commuter told news.com.au that all of the station’s information displays had blacked out and the Opal card readers were down.
Confused passengers are reported to be waiting at the station’s platforms — not knowing where the trains are going or when they will arrive.
T1 North Shore Line passengers are advised to allow extra travel time and Town Hall station is experiencing access issues, after a partial roof collapse.
There are no trains on the T3 Bankstown line between Campsie and Sydenham due to flooding — buses are being organised.
Trains on the Blue Mountains line towards the city are delayed due to urgent signal repairs.
A TMC spokesman also said numerous ferry routes are delayed due to flooding. The Parramatta and Olympic Park service is suspended due to the Parramatta Weir overflowing.
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 TMC spokesman said.
DELAYS TO LOOK OUT FOR ON THE BUS NETWORK
North Shore: 30 minute delays in Chatswood, Neutral Bay and Mosman. 20 minute delays in Pymble.
Inner West: 60 minute delays for some routes. Buses in Drummoyne and Rozelle are delayed by 15 minutes on Victoria Rd.
South: 25 minute delays in Ramsgate
East: 15 minute delays through Randwick and Kensington.
FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS
Sydney Airport has also warned of delays and cancellations at the International and Domestic terminals.
Travellers say they are being turned away from terminals, such as Qantas.
Customers at the airport are saying that increasing numbers of flights are being cancelled as the storm intensifies and the airport has advised passengers to contact their airline for more information.
One passenger said there was chaos with “everything on lockdown, no flights in or out”.
Airlines said travellers from Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast should prepare for significant delays with adverse conditions making flying dangerous and difficult.
The airport was operating with just one runway open this morning.
It is now back to a full service, but about 50 flights have already been cancelled or delayed.
The wild weather has also left more than 4500 homes and businesses are without power in northern Sydney — which Ausgrid has put down to thunderstorm activity.
Power outages in parts of St Ives, North Turramurra, St Ives Chase, Turramurra affected about 1100 customers, while 3500 customers are suffering outages in parts of Ryde, Marsfield, North Ryde, East Ryde, Eastwood.
Forecasters had earlier warned heavily populated areas of New South Wales were set for a soaking today, with wild weather and torrential downpours predicted across the state.
WORK FROM HOME IF YOU CAN
Sydneysiders were urged to reconsider their morning commutes, advised by police to stay off the roads if possible amid warnings to expect months-worth of rain in just a few hours.
Sydney rivers including the Hawkesbury, Nepean, Cooks and Georges are all on flood watch, while the State Emergency Service is preparing to mobilise thousands of volunteers.
“We’re asking all road users to perhaps reconsider the need to be on the road through what will be a severe rain event,” NSW Police Chief Inspector Phillip Brooks told reporters on Tuesday.
“Drivers, riders, cyclists and pedestrians need to make sure they are safe on our roads.”
NSW State Emergency Service Assistant Commissioner Scott Hanckel said parents should think about alternatives for the school drop-off and pick-up and advised businesses to expect workers to arrive late.
“It’s a great day to work from home — if that’s suitable,” he told AAP. He warned drivers not drive into flood waters, with that being the overwhelming major cause of flood deaths.
Businesses have been warned to expect workers to arrive late and drivers told to stay off the roads if possible as a low-pressure system reaches the coast around Sydney, the Hunter and the Illawarra.
Bureau of Meteorology severe weather manager Simon Louis said the rain wasn’t expected to last long but “quite intense” falls would develop in the morning and persist through the afternoon.
He expects many areas to receive 50 to 100mm with some localised parts exceeding 150mm.
Sydney’s average rainfall for November is 84mm.
“It’s not that unusual to have weather event give you a month’s worth of rain in 24 hours … but it is always associated with risks such as creeks coming up and roads being awash,” Mr Louis said.
Minor to moderate flash flooding is possible along the Hawkesbury, Nepean, Cooks and Georges rivers, the bureau says.
SES Assistant Commissioner Scott Hanckel was hopeful it would have thousands of volunteers available to call on across the South Coast, Hunter and Sydney metro areas, should people need help with fallen trees or flooding.
Ausgrid Chief Operating Officer Trevor Armstrong said people should prepare for the rain and wind before they arrive by doing a quick check on yards and putting away loose items.
Once offshore, the weather system is expected to deliver damaging winds to coastal areas and provide hazardous surf into Thursday and is expected to ease from midmorning.
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