A dangerous thunderstorm defined by torrential sudden rain hits Sydney and the Illawarra. It has caused major roads closure on the South Coast. Some schools were evacuated. Highway connecting Wollongong to Sydney is cut off by floodwaters. The traffic is very heavy. Trains have been cancelled on the South Coast line between Kiama and Wollongong. “Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce intense rainfall that may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding over the next several hours in parts of the Metropolitan and Illawarra districts,” the Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning.
The storm is moving across the city. Some buses have been rerouted to avoid flooded roads. The State Emergency Service has responded to more than 500 calls for help on Thursday. The NSW State Emergency Service has carried out at least 29 flood rescues, including seven in the Greater Sydney region. Rain is also affecting inland parts of the state, including Yass and Orange. The chance of rain and thunder continues into Friday.
