Sydney‘s Town Hall train station has flooded as a wild rain bomb wreaks havoc across the city.
More than 77mm has fallen in just one hour – closing the airport, sparking commuter chaos and prompting a warning for residents to stay indoors.
Shocking video footage shows a surge of water rushing down the steps of Town Hall station, causing parts of the station to flood.
Flooding in the station was only temporary and trains were not interrupted but some services on the T9 northern, T7 Olympic Park and Central Coast/Newcastle lines have been delayed due to ‘localised flooding’.
Sydney Trains said the delays are minor and should clear up as the rain eases.
‘Please take extra care while on stations, and when getting on and off trains as surfaces can be slippery when wet,’ Sydney Trains said.
The severe thunderstorm came west over the Blue Mountains and hit the city about midday, bringing intense rainfall that has led to flash flooding, with the NSW SES issuing urgent warnings.
The SES has specifically advised people in the following areas to stay indoors due to the hazardous conditions: Parramatta, Richmond, Liverpool, Brooklyn, Maroota, and Mona Vale.
Sydney’s Town Hall station temporarily flooded after more than 77mm fell in just one hour at 12.30pm on Monday
The Bureau of Meteorology warned that the ‘very dangerous thunderstorm’ was likely to cause life-threatening flash flooding in parts of the Gosford/Wyong and Sydney areas.
In Horsley Park, Western Sydney, 77.6mm of rain was recorded in just one hour.
Heavy rainfall is expected to continue throughout the day, making travel dangerous.
Traffic has been impacted by the storm, with significant flooding reported at Cecil Hills, with Elizabeth Drive underwater at Wallgrove Road on the M7.
The severe thunderstorm came west over the Blue Mountains and hit the city about midday
Heavy rainfall is expected to continue throughout the day, making travel dangerous
Two vehicles, including a van, are stuck in the floodwaters.
The M4 is impacted in both directions, with slow-moving traffic from Homebush Bay Drive through to the Cumberland Highway.
Cars were also seen ploughing through high floodwaters in Marrickville in the city’s inner west.
Roads were also inundated in Riverstone, north-west Sydney. And the town of Harden, regional NSW, was left covered in piles of large hail stones.
Foxtel was down for residents across the city due to the storm, interrupting Super Bowl coverage for local fans.
Cars were also seen ploughing through high floodwaters in Marrickville in the city’s inner west
Flash-flooding at Piccadilly Street in Riverstone
Further thunderstorms could hit Sydney in the late afternoon and evening on Monday, and the Bureau of Meteorology is also predicting further, less severe storms on Tuesday.
Sydneysiders were also told to be mindful of damaging wind gusts, which could be above 90km/h on Monday, and the possibility of hail-stones bigger than two centimetres.
