Sydney’s northern beaches have been plunged into crisis after relentless rain and storms unleashed flash floods and landslides overnight. Emergency services sprang into action, evacuating dozens from danger zones as properties were swamped and roads turned into rivers.
State Emergency Service (SES) teams issued urgent orders for residents in Northern Beaches areas like Narrabeen Lagoon, about 19 km north of the city center, to flee their homes starting Saturday night around 11 pm local time. Swelling floodwaters threatened homes, prompting swift evacuations to keep people safe.
By Sunday morning, rescuers had pulled 25 people from flood-trapped spots across New South Wales, with most operations centered in Sydney. At the isolated Great Mackerel Beach, a landslide battered three properties amid the downpour. Weather records from Terry Hills showed a staggering 179.6 mm of rain in 24 hours—far exceeding December’s total of 46.6 mm.
Tragedy struck further south when a woman died after a tree crashed onto her car amid fierce winds and rain. Emergency crews responded around 4 pm Saturday to a site 90 km south of central Sydney, where the driver perished on the scene. A front-seat passenger suffered minor injuries, while two in the back escaped unharmed.
New South Wales reeled under the storm’s fury, with flash floods hitting northern Sydney and disrupting flights at Sydney Airport. SES fielded hundreds of calls statewide, rescuing four more from rising waters. Superintendent Matt Kirby warned on Australian Broadcasting Corporation that heavy rain would persist Sunday across Sydney and surrounding regions, with no quick relief in sight.
‘Avoid driving through floodwater and be cautious where you park—trees can fall anytime,’ Kirby urged. As forecasts predict more deluges north of Sydney, authorities brace for prolonged impacts on this vulnerable coastal stretch.