Summary
The latest weather radar shows how much the storms and rain have eased across Sydney, the Hunter, Central Coast and Newcastle. The rain has moved south meaning the focus of emergency services now will be the clean up.
As the storms ease off, so does this live blog though you can read our news wrap here. The key developments from today are:
- Two elderly women are missing in floodwaters after their car was swept off Cessnock road in Maitland about 8.50am. Police divers from Sydney were joining the search for the pair on Wednesday afternoon.
- Two people have died in a head-on collision on the New England Highway near Singleton on Wednesday afternoon.
- A flood evacuation order has been called for parts of Milperra and Bankstown, two suburbs of south-west Sydney.
- The three victims of the storms in Dungog on Tuesday were identified as Robyn McDonald, who was about 70, Colin Webb, 79, and Brian Wilson.
- Premier Mike Baird said a natural disaster would be declared in Dungog, Maitland and parts of the Central Coast in the next 24 hours and urged people not to enter the floodwaters.
- The cruise ship, Carnival Spirit, which was stranded just outside of Sydney heads overnight in swells which reached 9m was allowed to dock this morning with the 4,000 passengers getting off safely. It is due to depart again for New Caledonia this evening.
- 350 people slept rough in the streets during the storms with charities working to provide extra support to the homeless in Sydney during the storms.
- Severe conditions have peaked but the next 48 hours could also prove dangerous with flooding continuing and damage from the storm being assessed.
Updated
Two people have died in a head-on collision near Singleton on Wednesday afternoon.
Police have confirmed they were called to the scene at Rixs Creek on the New England Highway. The area is located north-west of Newcastle and like large parts of New South Wales has been enduring days of thunderstorms.
The drivers of both vehicles died. Two passengers in one of the vehicles were assisted by emergency services before being airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition.
Police are continuing to investigate. The New England Highway remains closed at Rixs Creek and motorists are advised to avoid the area.
Updated
As we head into peak hour traffic here’s a quick update regarding the roads and public transport.
In Sydney there are rail delays on the airport, inner west and south, Bankstown, eastern suburbs and Illawara and Blue Mountains lines. Partial closures are on the central coast and Newcastle, and south coast lines. The Hunter line is still without service.
Two hours ago the New England Highway was closed in both directions 2km north of Singleton after a serious two car accident. The Pacific Highway near Hexham is seeing heavy delays due to flooding. Head to livetraffic.com for complete updates on the roads.
More incredible photos of the damage wreaked by this three-day storm continue to be sent in from across affected towns of New South Wales.
Here Lucy Wicks, the federal member for Robertson, tweets a photo of the gigantic tree that was ripped from the earth and landed on her family car:
Here's the tree that crashed into our roof and hit the car. Makes us thankful we're all ok! #staysafe #ccstorms pic.twitter.com/LI1HrvB1Hn
— Lucy Wicks MP (@LucyWicksMP) April 22, 2015
For many of the towns in the Hunter and Illawarra regions, in terms of squalling winds and rain the worst is over, and the long cleanup process has begun.
A flood evacuation order has been called for parts of Milperra and Bankstown, two suburbs of south-west Sydney.
The Bureau of Meteorology have predicted flooding for Georges River, and is directing residents living on the following streets to evacuate immediately:
- Rickard Road
- Arthur Street
- Riverside Road, between Arthur Street and Newbridge Road
- Newbridge Road, between Rickard Road and Governor Macquarie Drive
- Davey Robinson Drive
According to the state emergency service an evacuation centre has been set up by community services at Moorebank Community Hall. Their advice for evacuees:
- Take your important documents, mementos and photos
- Take your spare clothing, medicines and personal hygiene supplies
- If you are going to the evacuation centre, take blankets or sleeping bags, pillows and sleeping mats
- If possible, check to see if your neighbours need help
- Turn off the electricity and gas
- Never drive ride or walk through floodwater
- Continue to listen to a local radio station for updates
Updated
People affected by the storms and heavy rains can get free legal help with questions about their insurance cover and claims, the state’s attorney general has announced.
Legal Aid NSW is planning to set up additional legal services in affected areas and Gabrielle Upton has released advice telling people to take photos and videos of flood damage and get legal advice before speaking to insurance assessors if there is any doubt about their policy.
Getting legal advice early is critical for people whose home and property has been damaged by heavy rain and storm,” Upton said.
For legal assistance with storms, rain and flooding people can call 1800 801 529 or visit the Legal Aid website.
Updated
As mentioned before, an estimated 350 people slept rough on the streets of Sydney during the storms. My colleague Monica Tan met one of them at Belmore Park:
This is Robert Campbell a 50-year-old man who has spent the last three nights sleeping, or trying to sleep, in the the cold and wind-swept hallways of Central station.
Campbell’s $40 tent setup in Belmore Park, was no match for the 100km/hour winds and torrential rain that bore down on Sydney. He takes me to the crumpled pile of blue plastic that had been his home for several weeks, quietly pointing out his sleeping mat and bag of clothes.
Originally from the tiny town of Enngonia, on the border of New South Wales and Queensland, Campbell has been in Sydney visiting his sister Gracie. He says she’s been living in a tent in the park for several years.
“Broke my heart,” says Campbell, about when the howling rain and wind bore down on his makeshift home on Monday. “I’m soaked, and got nowhere to go.”
Charity workers have been out in the rain, assisting those in need. In Campbell’s hands is a yellow blanket, and a few vegemite sandwiches and sausage roll someone has donated him.
This is all I been eating for weeks. I’m 50 years of age. I’m getting too old for this.
This man is sleeping (badly) in the cold and wind-swept Central Stn after his tent was decimated by the #sydneystorm pic.twitter.com/zbzYxJRELA
— Monica Tan (@m_onicatan) April 22, 2015
Updated
My bright-as-a-button colleague, Nick Evershed, has created this graph showing average monthly rainfalls in Dungog, Sydney and Newcastle over the past 20 years. You can look at which months in which years had the heaviest rainfalls and how long it was between particularly bad months.
Police divers from Sydney will join the search for two people missing in floodwaters in Maitland.
Police have confirmed the two people in a silver hatchback, which was swept into floodwater on Cessnock Road in Maitland, were elderly women.
Inspector Brian Tracey told media the pair had driven from Gillieston Heights into Maitland and were returning when they attempted to cross a flooded part of the road.
A Westpac helicopter, along with police officers, firefighters and SES volunteers have been searching for the past six hours.
Recovery operation for underwater car and passenger(s) continues in Maitland pic.twitter.com/qhMaZTYYwY
— Gina Rushton (@ginarush) April 22, 2015
A man who has crewed rescue helicopter flights for 30 years in the Hunter says he has never seen such severe weather in the region as the storms of past few days.
Graham Nickisson was chief of the crew which rescued the crew of container ship Pasha Bulker when it ran aground during a storm in 2007. He told the Newcastle Herald the storm was worse than the one in 2007.
‘‘That weather on Tuesday was just horrendous, so horrendous. We did fly further up the valley this time, compared to just to the coast to the ship back then, but this was much worse.’
In all my years flying, I have never seen so much water in the Hunter Valley. Never in my life.’’
Footage of a house being swept away in the floods in Dungog yesterday went viral yesterday and now the women who lived in the house has spoken about the storms.
Colleen Jones told AAP she got out of the house just before it was swept away.
We just got out. I was just terrified. It is just unbelievable, the current of water. It is just heartbreaking. It was just horrific to watch, just to see your house crumble.”
There are warnings of periods of heavy rain, wind and thunder but the skies are finally clearing slightly in Sydney.
These guys are looking pretty pleased with the overflowing Manly dam #SydneyStorm pic.twitter.com/YiBjdqh9nW
— Carrington Clarke (@carringtonAU) April 22, 2015
A sign that the #SydneyStorm is over? What a quick change in #weather! @earleyedition #mothernature pic.twitter.com/GzErGmwCw0
— Danielle Ryan (@DanielleBetony) April 22, 2015
We have footage of some of the younger passengers of the cruise ship, Carnival Spirit, which was stranded just outside Sydney harbour. The brother and sister talk about what it was like to be on the ship while it was battling swells of up to 9m.
Updated
Small towns north of the Hunter region have started mopping up as severe weather warnings for the area have been cancelled, my colleague Monica Tan reports:
Linda Gill, 60, is a councillor of the Great Lakes region and reports about 800 homes in the area have been without power since the storm hit on Monday evening.
Phone lines and mobile networks have been offline, with residents having to go into town to communicate with family and friends.
Gill’s home in the town of Wootton has been without power, and she says the storm came on suddenly, with raging winds and torrential rain.
You could hear limbs coming off trees, and that sounds really scary.
Much of Jimmy’s Beach near Hawks Nest washed away and “gouged out” part of a nearby road, says Gill. But the area is now seeing blue skies, and is preparing to begin clean up operations. Power is expected to be restored in the coming days.
The area is one hour’s drive east of Stroud and Dungog, the towns that have been worst hit by the three days of severe weather.
Updated
Through the Sydney storm there were about 350 people sleeping rough in Sydney with every crisis bed taken, my colleague Melissa Davey reports:
Many were concerned about how these rough sleepers would fare in the horrendous weather, which saw streets flooded.
The City of Sydney’s homelessness team told Guardian Australia an emergency shelter was set up at Abraham Mott Hall in Millers Point on Tuesday night as a sanctuary for homeless people caught out in the weather.
City staff worked with Missionbeat, and police and family and community services, throughout the night to help transport people to use the shelter.
Members of the homelessness team tended to the five men and three women who arrived, giving them blankets donated by the IBIS Hotel. Three of the rough sleepers stayed at the centre throughout the night and another was placed in temporary emergency accommodation.
Other members of the homelessness team are now working with other services to see if more people need emergency assistance, shelter, dry clothes etc.
The City of Sydney is the only council in NSW with a dedicated homelessness unit.
Meanwhile, extra volunteers helped out the Wayside Chapel which cooked and handed out hot meals to the homeless people in Redfern.
Mission Australia CEO, Catherine Yeomans, said the storm had a huge impact for those sleeping rough and with health concerns.
What we have found is that rough sleepers have sought to find shelter in places such as train stations and tunnels. These areas tend to become crowded and cramped, sometimes causing issues between the homeless population as regular sleepers in those areas feel that “their” space is being invaded.
Our Missionbeat service have put extra drivers on the road in response to an explosion in demand over the last few days.
Although our drivers usually finish their night shift at 10.30pm, our staff worked through the night last night to ensure that rough sleepers in exposed areas were able to find shelter.
The Millers Point evacuation point will remain open today, she said, where people can wash and dry their clothes, have a shower, a cup of tea and a bite to eat.
The Newcastle Herald has a photo from the moment a car, believed to have two people inside, was swept off Cessnock Road, in Maitland, this morning.
Powerful photo from @newcastleherald of a car being swept away. Search on for missing people #sydneystorm #NewyStorm pic.twitter.com/mLbfhsOrUq
— Bevan Shields (@BevanShields) April 22, 2015
The vehicle was swept into the water about 8.50am and four people who tried to save the people inside the car had to be rescued from the flood waters themselves. They were treated by paramedics at the scene.
The silver hatchback was completely submerged in the water and police believe there were two people inside the car.
A Westpac Carefight helicopter was called into help with the search, along with police, fire and SES officers.
Updated
Dungog has been cut off for most of the past 24 hours but we are now starting to get images of the flooding and damage in the town, which is in the upper hunter.
The insurance bill for the New South Wales storms is already more than $100m, reports AAP.
As of 7am on Wednesday insurance companies had received more than 19,500 claims, with losses estimated at $129 million, The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) said.
CEO Rob Whelan said the industry had declared a catastrophe to enable resources to be fully harnessed to assist affected communities.
The captain of the cruise ship which was stranded outside of Sydney harbour for days has spoken to media and is “non-plussed” about the 10m swells he battled, reports my colleague Monica Tan:
Captain Adriano Binacchi, who manned the stranded, Carnival Spirit, is officially the world’s most non-plussed sea captain. His ship took on 6-10m swells but in taking questions from media his overall attitude seemed to be “no big deal”.
When asked if facing such violent sea conditions is rare he replied:
Not really, it’s not my first time.”
Were there any injuries sustained on board?
No injuries. Just some minor sea sickness.”
Damage to the ship?
What damage? Maybe some glass window panes. Minor things.”
The captain said that trying to sail through the 6-9m swells is like driving through a wall. So he would “ride up the wave, at a slow speed” in order to minimise the rocking.
Reports from both crew and passengers is that there was plenty of fuel, food and fun on the ship as it lay stranded outside Sydney Harbour for more than 24 hours.
The Port Authority confirmed that a 13m swell in Sydney Harbour made it impossible for the boat to pull in but with calmer weather on Wednesday meant Carnival Spirit was allowed entry. The ship’s 4,000 passengers continue to disembark with a new set of passengers due this afternoon. The ship will leave in the evening, destined for New Caledonia.
Captain Adriano Binacchi of Carnival Spirit: world's most non-plussed ship captain. @bkjabour pic.twitter.com/FznvmKqEaQ
— Monica Tan (@m_onicatan) April 22, 2015
Updated
The NSW SES is getting about 500 calls an hour as the storms continue to batter New South Wales and have had 963 requests for assistance since 6am, bringing the total over the past few days to 9,100.
SES commissioner, Andrew Dent, said there have been 100 flood rescues since the start of the storms which was a “significant” number.
The more difficult days are still ahead of us in terms of getting on top of the scale of this event.
Dent said people who enter floodwaters were putting their own lives and the lives of emergency workers at risk.
He said the focus of the SES was in Newcastle and just north of it in the Hunter region, but they had been attending call outs right across the east coast.
Mike Baird said the details of the areas to be declared natural disasters would be worked out over the next 24 hours but would definitely include Dungog, Maitland and parts of the Central Coast.
Obviously we want to get on with the job of recovery as quickly as we possibly can and obviously those declarations help particularly councils provide [help], it gives them assurity in terms of getting on with the infrastructure rebuild and also businesses and families.
Importantly, every community can have this assurance that we will do everything possible we can to help them get back on their feet.
Reports of two people missing, last seen trapped in a car
There have been reports of two people missing in Maitland after a car was swept from the road. The Newcastle Herald is reporting an elderly lady was seen driving the car into rising flood water and may have been carrying a passenger in Cessnock road.
SES commissioner, Andrew Dent, was unable to confirm the reports at his press conference with Mike Baird, referring reporters to police instead.
NSW police are yet to release a statement.
Cessnock Rd Maitland, a car has been swept into rising flood waters, two people missing @newcastleherald #newystorm pic.twitter.com/bfFH3Rf2nd
— Jonathan Carroll (@JonoCarrollNH) April 22, 2015
NSW premier Mike Baird to declare natural disaster
Mike Baird will officially declare a natural disaster in Dungog, where three people died yesterday during the storms, in Maitland and in parts of the Central Coast.
The premier is addressing media at an emergency centre and said conditions are still quite dangerous in some areas and will remain so over the next 48 hours. He warned even when the sun comes out emergency workers will still be dealing with flooding.
There are still 200,000 homes and businesses without power and it may take a few days for it to be restored.
We ask those communities to hang tough. We are there to support you and undoubtedly we still have some difficult hours ahead of us as this weather pattern continues to move through.
...In terms of the weather pattern, it’s still very dangerous. We’re seeing a continuation of the wind, rain, flash flooding and really whilst it is still dangerous, the positive is that there is some easing but we still have a lot to get through in the next 48 hours and a particular message to the community is as we approach the next 24 hours, please do not enter floodwaters.
Baird thanked emergency workers from interstate and singled out Queensland, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory for sending workers, equipment and good will.
Baird said the details of the natural disaster zones will be worked out over the next 24 hours but it will definitely include Dungog, Maitland and parts of the Central Coast.
Updated
Here is the rain radar over Sydney at the moment. As you can see, the rain is easing slightly in some areas but another dumping is on the way.
Here is footage of how deep the water is on Botany Road in Alexandria in the inner west of Sydney. Evidently, cars are still driving through it.
Traffic fording Botany Road near Green Square station. #SydneyStorm #SydneyWeather #Alexandria pic.twitter.com/DdEthia1Ly
— Liz Broekhuyse (@Theysaurus) April 21, 2015
Most of the passengers disembarking the cruise ship, Carnival Spirit, after almost two days spent in huge swells just outside of Sydney seem to be in high spirits, my colleague Monica Tan reports.
She is down at Circular Quay where the ship docked a little over an hour ago. She reports:
Apparently the mood has been calm on board despite the 10m waves that have been battering the ship.
Trish White, 50 from Adelaide was one of the first of the passengers to disembark.
The staff were very good. People were nervous but the staff always kept us updated.”
White says passengers were not allowed up on deck due to the dangerous weather conditions but there were reports of glass windows breaking and water coming on board.
Down below in her room, furniture such as her bedside table, tipped over as the ship bore the brunt of the heavy sea conditions. White has been on cruise ships before and says this was the most turbulence she has ever experienced.
Trish White, 50 and husband Paul Skelton, 49 from Adelaide were first off the ship. @bkjabour pic.twitter.com/GAlqKlmqUD
— Monica Tan (@m_onicatan) April 22, 2015
Updated
The three people killed during the storms yesterday have been identified with one of the victims reportedly staying in her flooded house to protect her dog.
The Newcastle Herald has identified them as Robyn McDonald, who lived in Hooke Street and Colin Webb, 79, and Brian Wilson, 72, who lived a block away, across the road from each other, in Brown Street.
Dungog resident Sally Fitzpatrick, a former neighbour of McDonald, said the town was ‘‘very quiet’’ and ‘‘in shock’’.
‘I heard [McDonald] didn’t want to abandon her dog and she was washed away but the dog survived,’’ she said.
Sydney Airport is emphasising it is not closed. There are delays but people should check with their airline if they have flights booked today. There is also information here.
Sydney Airport is not closed. We have additional resources in place to minimise disruption. Please check with you airline for flight info.
— Sydney Airport (@SydneyAirport) April 22, 2015
Sydney and the Illawarra are facing heavy rainfall and winds of up to 100km/h but the Bureau of Meteorology is saying the most severe storms have peaked.
In its latest warning, released a few minutes ago, the BOM said the severe weather warning for the Hunter district has been cancelled.
A low pressure system, just off the Hunter coast, is moving towards Sydney and there will be brief periods of damaging winds, heavy rainfall and thunderstorms this afternoon.
Since 9am, 56mm of rain has fallen in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains and 93mm has fallen on Prospect Reservoir in western Sydney.
In the 24 hours to 9am Nelson Bay, just north of Newcastle, recorded 140mm and Turramurra in Sydney’s north recorded 127mm.
Updated
Flights in and out of Sydney Airport delayed
All international and domestic flights to and from Sydney Airport have been suspended, according to the airport.
Flights were facing delays this morning but because of the weather flights on the tarmac have been grounded for the time being.
Updated
My colleague, Monica Tan, is down at Circular Quay where the cruise ship, Carnival Spirit, has docked.
Carnival cruise ship docked in Sydney. No doubt 2500 people feeling very relieved right now. @bkjabour pic.twitter.com/lUkWTcHB6u
— Monica Tan (@m_onicatan) April 21, 2015
It's kind of incredible up close. Like a floating 10 storey building. Passengers waiting to disembark. @bkjabour pic.twitter.com/lsBWxmWOam
— Monica Tan (@m_onicatan) April 21, 2015
Updated
Carnival Spirit finally docks
The cruise ship which has been stuck outside Sydney harbour in 10m swells for days has finally docked in Circular Quay. Passengers have described glasses smashing, the ship rocking so much people could barely sleep and flooding on open decks of the ship of Carnival Spirit while awaiting permission to enter Sydney Harbour. One can only imagine their relief!
Cheers from passengers as Carnival Spirit pulls in. Finally. @7NewsSydney pic.twitter.com/DxCm4E6OlM
— Mia Burns (@mia_burns7) April 21, 2015
Firefighters have rescued two people from a car which was swept off Cessnock Road in Maitland.
The rescue took place in the last 45 minutes or so. Firefighters, police and the premier have emphasised people should not attempt to drive across, or walk across, any flooded roads.
Transport update in Sydney
Delays on road and rail, as well as partial closures make commuting difficult this morning. Premier Mike Baird has urged people to stay at home, or delay their commute if possible, but here is the current situation for those who have to travel:
- Train line delays include the North Shore line, the Northern line, the Western line, the Inner West and south line and the Eastern suburbs and Illawarra line.
- The Bankstown line has major delays because of flooding at Marrickville and a fallen tree at Wolli Creek
- The Hunter line is closed.
- The Central coast and Newcastle line, as well as the south coast line have partial closures.
- There are multiple traffic and road closures across Sydney, the Hunter region and Central Coast. A full list and searchable site for your area is available here.
Carnival Spirit has been given permission to dock, Channel Nine reports. A pilot will have to board the vessel first to guide the ship in but passengers were facing another 24 hours sitting just outside of the harbour in the rough swells.
UPDATE: Relief for passengers with a cruise ship stuck outside Sydney Harbour finally given approval to dock. #9News pic.twitter.com/Kd64PjmSoD
— Nine News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) April 21, 2015
Updated
Here is a list of rescues the State Emergency Service have undertaken since Monday:
- Two adults and two children were rescued from a unit isolated by flood waters in Woodville, on the outskirts of Maitland
- Two people were trapped by floodwater in Swansea
- Animals in a boarding kennel in Millers Point, north of Newcastle, had to be relocated because of flooding
- Cattle were almost stranded on a flood bank in Maitland as waters rose
- Two people were stranded on a levee bank in Largs in the Hunter region
- People were evacuated from Blackalls Park
- A person was evacuated from Wyong because they needed medical attention
The New South Wales opposition is urging the government to declare a state of emergency in the Hunter region, one of the worst affected by the storms.
Shadow emergency services minister, Guy Zangari, says Hunter (Labor) MPs, Jodie Harrison and Tim Crakanthorp, have been in contact with him about the storms “expressing deep concern”.
Zangari says:
As residents and businesses in the Hunter battle severe storms today, the NSW Labor Opposition calls upon Premier Mike Baird to declare a state of emergency in this region.
Residents in the Hunter are facing road closures, flooding, cyclonic winds, damage to buildings and power outages. Predictions are the worst is yet to come.
The coastal areas of the Hunter are being battered by high seas and strong swells. Torrential rain is causing rivers to reach their peak and flash flooding across the area.
... The Government must implement measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the community remains a priority.
Updated
Warringah mayor, Michael Regan, has described the situation in Manly as “organised chaos”.
Asked on Channel Nine to describe the situation in Manly he said:
Lots of debris around the roads, a lot of trees down, lots and lots of waters, it’s chaos but it’s organised chaos.
Regan thanked emergency workers and said the threat from the Manly Dam overflowing was easing.
Waves seem to be getting less and less and the water is flowing out to sea quite a lot faster.
A brief reprieve
Rainbow just appeared, arcing over herd of cows on the Pacific Hwy near Hexham! #sydneystorms #newystorm @australian pic.twitter.com/CDRCa5S0ll
— Gina Rushton (@ginarush) April 21, 2015
The cruise ship, Carnival Spirit, is still trapped just outside the Sydney Harbour with swells too big for it to enter safely without a pilot. There are 4,000 people on board including Fairfax reporter Rachel Browne who has written about the “horrific” experience.
There are 10m swells where the boat is parked and passengers told radio stations yesterday that the boat would not stop rocking.
Browne writes:
They [the crew] are telling us the ship can withstand the storm, but there is a fair bit of damage. Glass panels are smashed and there are shards of glass lying around the pool.
There is a lot of water coming into the ship.
Level four is an open deck and plenty is coming in there. The staff are using towels and blankets to stem the flow.
Updated
Manly Dam has been spilling overnight but there is no immediate threat to locals, who were told to prepare evacuate last night as the dam threatened to overflow.
Residents received a text message labelled a SES flood evacuation warning. It said:
Evacuation may be possible. Prepare now.
Manly residents have not been evacuated and emergency workers are monitoring the dam.
#Manly local wades through #floodwater after #Manly dam spilled over. @ManlyDaily #SydneyStorm #telephotos pic.twitter.com/aveE2JGg3e
— Chris McKeen (@McKeenPhotos) April 21, 2015
After days of torrential rain, Manly Dam looks like this #Sydney. (credit: @John__Donegan) pic.twitter.com/1FCE62PRpP
— Vanessa O'Hanlon (@VanessaOHanlon) April 21, 2015
.@nswpolice guard a flooded road in #Manly after dam spills over @ManlyDaily #telephotos #manly365 pic.twitter.com/9CRGm8HURo
— Chris McKeen (@McKeenPhotos) April 21, 2015
Melissa Davey signing off from Melbourne and handing over to Bridie Jabour, who has made it in to work despite the storm aftermath and transport closures.
We have photos coming in from late yesterday and overnight as storms hit from the Illawarra up to the Hunter region and Central Coast. Damage is still being assessed this morning and it will likely be a little while before we know the full extent of it.
Updated
The premier, Mike Baird, has some good news for students, if not for parents. A “large number” of schools will be closed today, he says. Parents should check the dec.nsw.gov.au or call their school for more information.
Updated
Here is Guardian Australia’s latest report on the weather conditions overnight and the forecast conditions today.
About 200,000 homes and businesses across Sydney, the Hunter and the Illawarra are still without power after cyclonic winds and flooding in the worst storms to hit the state in a decade, according to AAP.
A second storm cell is sitting off Newcastle and is expected to bring more heavy rain and thunderstorms along the New South Wales coast on Wednesday.
Three people died yesterday during the “once in a decade” storms. The two men and a woman died in Dungog, in the upper Hunter, during a search-and-rescue operation. My colleague, Bridie Jabour, reports in full here.
Updated
According to the SES, a severe weather warning remains in place for an intense low pressure system situated over the Hunter region, which is bracing itself for a second storm cell and severe weather.
The good news is the low is showing an overall easing trend, moving gradually southwards along the coast and is expected to weaken and moves east later this afternoon.
Police are urging people remain calm following reports of flooding around Manly Dam.
Northern Beaches local area commander, Detective Superintendent David Darcy, says that while there is flooding in the area due to a combination of high tide, rain, heavy surf blocking the exit of water, and a number of small creeks feeding water to the area, Manly dam has not spilled over. Darcy says:
We want to ensure that people in the area are safe and remain calm. State Emergency Services, local council officers and police have personally spoken to all residents that are likely to be evacuated in the event of an emergency.
A Public Information and Inquiry Centre has been set up and can be reached on 1800 227 228.
There have been significant disruptions to phone services in Manly, as well as significant electricity disruptions to multiple areas in the greater Sydney and Newcastle areas.
However, Guardian Australia editor and Manly resident, Emily Wilson, says ferry services are running this morning.
Since Monday, the SES has received 7,984 jobs and has conducted 90 flood rescues.
Updated
Good morning and welcome to Guardian Australia’s live updates on the NSW storms.
Melissa Davey with you reporting on the latest weather information from the comparatively sunny Melbourne, as my Sydney colleagues struggle to get transport to work.
For those just heading to work, maybe don’t. Just tell your boss you have permission from the NSW premier, Mike Baird, who has urged commuters to avoid peak-hour travel.
To ease strain on transport/road networks please again try to travel to work outside standard peak times – I urge employers to be flexible.
— Mike Baird (@mikebairdMP) April 21, 2015
Train services in particular have been affected, with lines between Campsie and Sydenham partially closed due to flooding at Marrickville station, and the Hunter and Central Coast/Newcastle lines are closed.
On the South Coast line, buses are replacing trains.
Train at Marrickville station. #SydneyStorm #SydneyTrains pic.twitter.com/7g7Y6iUDDq
— Thomas (@thomasbiscuit) April 21, 2015
Updated
