Woman dead as ‘very dangerous’ storms hit NSW

A woman has been killed southwest of Sydney as the state is battered by “very dangerous” thunderstorms, with some communities urged to “stay inside”.

The woman was in a car on the Illawarra Highway at Macquarie Pass about 4pm on Saturday when she was struck by a falling tree.

She died at the scene.

The male front seat passenger suffered minor injuries, while two passengers in the back of the car were uninjured.

Macquarie Pass is expected to be closed for hours as emergency crews remain on scene.

The woman’s death comes as more than 20 beaches were shut down across the state ahead of dangerous thunderstorms, with a huge swell swallowing one popular beach.

The State Emergency Service (SES) have urged some communities to stay inside as the storms brew.

Those in Gosford, Sydney, Wollongong, Wyong, Kiama and Woy Woy should stay indoors, as per the Watch and Act issued by the SES about 7.20pm.   

More than 130mm of rainfall was recorded in just two hours at Pearl Beach on Saturday afternoon, as well as 93.5mm at Ettalong within an hour, and 67mm at Cronulla South in two hours.

People have been urged to keep clear of creeks and storm drains, not to walk or drive through flood waters, and to stay indoors away from windows.

‘Very dangerous’

Severe thunderstorms were detected around the Sydney city, Harbour Bridge, and Spencer just before 8pm on Saturday evening, which could lead to flash flooding.

Mona Vale, Calga, Ryde, Hornsby, Berowra and Pennant Hills could be affected between 8.30pm and 9pm.

Life-threatening flash flooding could develop in Gosford, Sydney, Wollongong, Wyong, Kiama and Woy Woy as “very dangerous” thunderstorms roll in.

20+ beaches shut amid wild weather

Dee Why, Manly, Mona Vale, Narrabeen, Bronte, Clovelly, and Tamarama are among more than 20 beaches closed as the state is battered by wild weather.

Cronulla Beach vanished under heavy swells that submerged the shoreline all the way to the foreshore earlier on Saturday.

Images show waves crashing over the rock pool and hitting the foreshore wall as authorities close the beach in dangerous conditions.

SES receive more than 900 calls for help

Nearly 900 people have asked the SES for help so far, with heavy rainfall and damaging winds expected to continue for another 48 hours across Shoalhaven, Illawarra, Sydney and the Blue Mountains.

Flood rescues for people trapped by flash flooding in vehicles include some of the incidents the SES have responded to in Albion Park, Picton and Marulan over the last 24 hours.

Three campers, one who was suspected to have hyperthermia, also needed to be rescued in the Snowy Mountains overnight on Friday.

NSW SES acting assistant commissioner Sonya Oyston urged people not to become complacent as the wild weather persists.

“As people enjoy their holidays in communities they aren’t familiar with, it’s important they think about where their camp may be set up and move themselves away from under trees and next to waterways, including estuaries and creeks,” Ms Oyston said.

‘Large hail’

“We’re still going to see showers and thunderstorms through the weekend, continuing even into early next week, but the risk of severe weather will gradually decrease,” said Bureau of Meteorology Meteorologist Miriam Bradbury.

“Severe storms are certainly still a possibility through eastern parts of New South Wales on Saturday and in some areas on Sunday too, bringing that continued risk of heavy falls, damaging wind gusts and large hail,” she said.

Meanwhile, hazardous surf warnings are in place throughout the Sydney Coast, Illawarra Coast, Bateman Coast and Eden Coast with dangerous conditions expected for swimming, boating and fishing,

NSW Police said, “people should stay out of the water and avoid walking near surf-exposed areas”.

Sky News Meteorologist Marina Neuman said the storm threat would continue across the coast and potentially even reach as far as Brisbane,

“A severe thunderstorm warning remains in place from Port Macquarie, through Coffs Harbour, and as far north as Lismore,” she said.

Up north, the BOM said moister leftover from ex tropical cyclone Koji could still trigger areas with heavy rain in Northern Queensland.

In the Northern Territory, the western Top End continues to be hit by heavy rain near a tropical low, increasing the likelihood of a cyclone developing.

Flood watch alerts have been issued for areas between the Katherine River and Darwin as well as the Tiwi Islands.

Other capitals can expect a slightly more sunny weekend.

“Melbourne is looking at a very nice afternoon, 27C and partly sunny, hot in Adelaide at a high of 30C, but cooling off in Perth at 25C with some showers targeting the very southern coast of WA,” Ms Neuman said.

“Cooling off in Sydney and Canberra amid those stormy conditions, dropping back to an afternoon of 21C for both locations by Saturday afternoon,” she said.