Catastrophic weather slammed Sydney over the weekend, spawning flash floods and landslides along the northern beaches that wrecked properties and necessitated widespread rescues. What started as heavy Saturday night rains escalated into a full-blown emergency, displacing residents and halting normal life.
SES commanders directed evacuations in vulnerable Northern Beaches spots, including Narrabeen Lagoon 19 km north of downtown, from 11 pm Saturday. Rising torrents inundated homes, demanding immediate action to safeguard lives.
Sunday updates revealed 25 flood rescues in New South Wales, focused heavily on Sydney. Three properties at remote Great Mackerel Beach fell victim to a rain-induced landslide. Meteorological data from Terry Hills captured 179.6 mm dumped in 24 hours, dwarfing December’s meager 46.6 mm.
South of the city, horror unfolded when heavy winds felled a tree onto a car 90 km from central Sydney shortly before 4 pm Saturday. The woman driving died at the scene; a male front passenger got minor hurts, while two backseat riders were fine.
Storms ravaged New South Wales’ east coast, flooding northern Sydney and snarling Sydney Airport traffic. SES handled a flood of calls, extracting four people from waters statewide. ABC interviews with Superintendent Matt Kirby highlighted ongoing threats: heavy showers set to continue Sunday over Sydney and nearby areas north and south.
‘Don’t drive in floods, and watch your parking—falling trees are a real risk,’ he cautioned. Officials warn of intensified rains north of Sydney, preparing for extended disruptions in these flood-prone coastal communities.