Thousands Without Power as Wild Weather Lashes East Coast
Severe weather has battered New South Wales over the past 48 hours, causing widespread power outages, dangerous flooding, and major transport disruptions across Sydney and the Central Coast. Authorities have urged residents to stay indoors and avoid non-essential travel as a destructive “bomb cyclone” system wreaks havoc across the state.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) confirmed the low-pressure system was sitting off the Central Coast and tracking north-east, but warned a second surge of bad weather could arrive tonight, bringing renewed threats. The weather event, fuelled by unusually warm sea temperatures, has already left over 37,000 properties without electricity at its peak, with more than 17,000 still affected.
NSW SES clearing a fallen tree in Barrack Heights, Shellharbour. [NSW SES]
Homes in Darkness as Energy Providers Race to Restore Power
Ausgrid reported that it had restored power to more than 35,000 customers, but 6700 remained without electricity as of Wednesday afternoon. Essential Energy and Endeavour Energy together reported nearly 12,000 customers still experiencing power outages.
The Hunter, Central Coast, and Sydney regions were among the worst-hit, with fallen trees, flooding, and damaged infrastructure preventing immediate repairs.
“As the wild weather continues, there could be more outages throughout the day – as well as flooding and hidden hazards, particularly around fallen or damaged trees,” Ausgrid warned.
Areas facing power outages. [Credit: ABC News]
A weather map visualises intense wind and swell activity off the east coast of Australia, with powerful systems affecting areas from NSW to Victoria. [Source: Windy]
Communities Face Flooding and Evacuation Orders
The State Emergency Service (SES) has responded to over 3400 incidents statewide, including flash flooding, fallen trees, and dangerous coastal erosion. Active evacuation orders remain in place for parts of Wamberal, The Entrance, Burrill Lake, and Sanctuary Point.
In Burrill Lake, where floodwaters inundated homes and businesses overnight, residents continue to assess the damage. Rian Gough, owner of the Rosie Oats café, found her outdoor furniture swept into the road and her stock spoiled. “It’s receding a lot now, but there are still areas where there is a lot of flooding and damage,” she said.
Floodwaters surround a phone booth outside the Rosie Oats café. [Photograph: Rian Gough]
Infrastructure on Edge as Dam Spills and Beaches Erode
WaterNSW has confirmed that the Warragamba Dam, Sydney’s primary water supply, is approaching full capacity and is expected to spill moderately overnight—releasing approximately 60 billion litres of water per day. Smaller dams at Cataract, Nepean, and Woronora have already started spilling.
Meanwhile, residents in Wamberal voiced their frustration over a lack of long-term solutions for ongoing coastal erosion. Mayor Lawrie McKinna said the council was doing its best under the NSW Reconstruction Act, but acknowledged urgent intervention was needed.
“We can’t keep coming back here every time there’s a swell,” he said.
Travel Chaos Hits Flights, Trains and Roads
As wild Sydney weather continues, transport systems across the east coast remain in disarray.
Flights Grounded
More than 75 flights were cancelled at Sydney Airport, with routes between Brisbane, Canberra, and Melbourne hardest hit. Delays continued into Wednesday due to fluctuating winds affecting runway operations.
Virgin, Qantas, and Jetstar have issued warnings to travellers, advising them to monitor flight updates. “The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority,” said a Virgin Australia spokesperson.
Meanwhile, more than 30 arrivals and 40 departures remained cancelled, impacting thousands of school holiday travellers.
Trains Sydney Alerted to Delays
Transport for NSW warned commuters to avoid non-essential travel across the rail network. Trains on several major lines, including the T1, T9, and Blue Mountains lines, faced disruptions due to fallen trees and damaged power lines.
Limited buses replaced services on the Central Coast and Newcastle line, while others faced delays from debris and overhead wiring issues.
Ferries and Buses Diverted
While Manly ferries resumed after early cancellations, bus routes across Narrabeen, Oakdale, and Engadine were diverted due to flooding and fallen trees. Some school services were cancelled entirely.
Roads Closed Due to Flooding and Hazards
Major roads were underwater or blocked by debris. Wakehurst Parkway, Audley Weir, and parts of the Illawarra Highway were among the roads closed. The BOM warned motorists to allow extra travel time and avoid flooded areas.
In the Illawarra region, a car flipped near Macquarie Pass following a rockslide. The SES continues to urge drivers to remain vigilant as debris and fallen trees remain a hazard.
Strong and towering waves pound Terrigal Beach on the Central Coast. [Credit: Dean Sewell/SMH]
BOM’s Second Surge Warning
The BOM issued a grim warning that a secondary low-pressure system, combined with the original cyclone via the Fujiwhara effect, could bring additional rain and wind overnight.
“This second surge will lead to an increase of rain through eastern Victoria and southern parts of NSW,” said meteorologist Dean Narramore. He forecast another 50 to 100mm of rain for the South Coast.
Brisbane Airport on Alert
Although Brisbane weather has been less extreme than NSW’s, authorities at Brisbane Airport remain on alert due to the ongoing east coast system. Delays on flights to and from Sydney have affected passenger flow, with ripple effects across interstate routes.
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Outlook: More Weather Ahead
While BOM predicts easing winds by Thursday, the threat of further power outages, flash flooding, and travel disruption remains high through the evening. Emergency crews and energy providers continue to work around the clock to manage the unfolding crisis.
For now, officials urge residents across the east coast to stay indoors, monitor Sydney weather news, and avoid unnecessary travel until the weather system fully passes.
