As conditions grow more severe, many locals are already experiencing disruptions—and the forecast suggests it may not ease up soon.
Whether you’re on the road, at home or simply trying to keep your family safe, now may be the time to start thinking ahead.
Trains halted, passengers stranded and close calls
Eastern parts of New South Wales (NSW) are facing more than just a few rainy days. It has been a dramatic 24 hours for commuters and residents across the region.
In Lake Macquarie, 60 passengers had to be evacuated from a train after fallen power lines brought it to a standstill.
Meanwhile, in Sydney’s west, a tree crashed through a train driver’s window, leaving passengers stranded for about an hour.
Mike Crabtree, one of those caught in the chaos, summed up the moment: ‘My missus said to me, you might have troubles on the train, and I risked it. So there you go.’
Others, like Benji Sitter, found themselves stuck in the cold and rain, unable to reach their destinations as lines shut down.
‘Now the trains are not running back up the mountains, and they are not going to Blacktown either… I am just stranded here,’ he said. ‘It is freezing cold, rainy, like full torrential storm.’
Transport for NSW has urged commuters to avoid non-essential travel, with fallen trees and flooding causing major disruptions.
On Tuesday night, the T1 North Shore line was suspended between Central and Wynyard. Buses replace trains on the Central Coast and Newcastle lines between Fassifern and Wyong.
Services were also halted between Hawkesbury River and Gosford, and on the Hunter line between Newcastle Interchange, Scone and Dungog.
Homes threatened by erosion and flooding
It is not just transport that has been hit.
On the Central Coast, more than 40 properties in Wamberal and North Entrance were evacuated as coastal erosion threatened to swallow homes.
Residents in Jervis Bay, Ulladulla and Batemans Bay were advised to stay indoors as the storm worsened.
The Illawarra and South Coast bore the brunt of the rain. Ulladulla recorded 83 mm in just eight hours, with Kiama not far behind at 70 mm.
Wind gusts reached 90 km/h in Montague Island, Kiama and Point Perpendicular, and authorities warned that gusts could reach 125 km/h overnight.
Power outages and emergency response
About 9,000 homes and businesses were left in the dark as the storm battered the region.
The New South Wales State Emergency Service (SES) reported more than 1,300 call-outs in just 24 hours, including two flood rescues.
New South Wales Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib warned that the situation is likely to worsen.
‘This is not the time for complacency. In the next 24 hours, there is a chance of more rain and strong and damaging winds.’
SES Deputy Commissioner Debbie Platz praised the ‘amazing effort’ of more than 1,200 volunteers and emergency partners.
She cautioned, however, that the weather is still deteriorating in some areas. ‘Please heed the warnings and stay safe,’ she said.
Flood watches and what’s next
Flood watches remain in place for the Mid North Coast, Hunter, Hawkesbury-Nepean, Sydney, Illawarra Coast, South Coast, Snowy catchments and parts of south-east Victoria.
With the ground already saturated and rivers rising, the risk of flash flooding is significant.
Your turn: Have you been impacted by the storm?
Weather events like these can remind us just how unpredictable things can get.
Have you had a close call, lost power or faced transport delays? Do you have any tried and tested storm preparation tips?
Let us know in the comments below—we’d love to hear your experiences and advice.
Also read: Farmers hit by drought and floods call on Australians to shop local and lend a hand
