“NSW SES crews and our emergency service partners were exceptionally busy last night assisting residents as we saw very high rainfall and dangerous flash flooding,” said SES State Duty Commander Sonya Oyston.
“There has been a lot of flash flooding which has closed roads, and we anticipate some may remain closed for some time.
“We’re asking the community to remain patient, and make safe, sensible decisions to never drive into flooded roads.”
The SES has responded to 1600 incidents around the state in the past 24 hours, including over 743 calls for help in Sydney.
In the Penrith, upper north shore, Gosford and Wyong areas there were numerous calls for help to the SES relating to roof damage and fallen trees.
Intense local rainstorms continued to lash parts of Sydney at 6am.
Wild surf conditions at Cronulla on Saturday.Credit: Sitthixay Ditthavong
Warnings remain in place for hazardous surf on the coast at beaches stretching from Newcastle to Batemans Bay and Eden, and more than 20 beaches are closed.
A slow-moving, dangerous thunderstorm caused flash flooding in Mona Vale and Palm Beach, on Sydney’s northern beaches, as 62.5mm of rainfall was recorded at Avalon in the hour to 2.13 pm on Saturday. Ettalong on the Central Coast had 93.5mm of rainfall in the hour to 2.22 pm.
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Flights were delayed at Sydney Airport due to heavy rain and a ground stop for an aircraft that needed a priority landing.
“While slightly below rostered air traffic controller numbers this afternoon, we don’t anticipate significant delay or cancellations due to our staffing,” an Air Services Australia spokeswoman said.
The wild weather is expected to weaken later today.
Senior meteorologist Edward Townsend-Medlock said more heavy rainfall was expected from Sydney’s northern suburbs through to the Hunter Coast on Sunday morning.
“Within that concentrated area is where you could get some of those more severe thunderstorm cells that we saw, for example, on the Central Coast,” he told AAP.
The trough is expected to weaken by Sunday afternoon as it moves offshore.
“It remains wet and it’s going to be cloudy. But there’s no risk of those severe thunderstorms.”
with AAP
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