Heavy rain traps commuters, risk of dangerous flash flooding
Updated ,first published
Commuters were stuck in traffic for hours as a “very dangerous” storm hit Sydney, causing flash flooding, blocking roads and causing major damage to evening commuters.
The Bureau of Meteorology warned at 7.45pm that life-threatening flash flooding could hit Parramatta, the Olympic Park, Fairfield and the city as a slow-moving storm brought heavy rain.
Just over 100 millimeters of rain hit Lidcombe in the three hours until 8.15pm.
Travelers were stranded on Anzac Bridge for up to two hours after rising waters closed parts of the City West Link and Parramatta Road. Raw Square in Strathfield was also closed due to flash flooding.
Overnight train services between Lidcombe and Bankstown have been canceled due to flooding on the tracks at Regents Park.
The rain system, described by the bureau as a “very dangerous storm”, had passed through parts of the northern beaches, Hills region and northwestern suburbs around 8.45pm.
A severe weather warning is in place for heavy rainfall in Sydney, parts of the Illawarra and the Blue Mountains. The Bureau of Meteorology says the “slow-moving trough” will bring persistent showers as it moves north.
The SES has warned people in Greater Sydney to stay at home.
The showers are expected to ease by 23:00 on Thursday but continue throughout the night. Forecasts indicate rainy days will continue through the weekend and early next week.
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Angus Dalton is science correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect with: X or email.
