A woman has died after her car was struck by a falling tree branch in the New South Wales Southern Highlands, as dangerous storms batter Australia’s east coast.
The woman, who has not been identified, was driving on the Illawarra Highway at Macquarie Pass, south of Wollongong, when the vehicle was hit by the bough about 4pm on Saturday.
A man, who is believed to have been sitting in the front passenger seat, suffered minor injuries. Two people in the back seat were not physically injured.
The Illawarra Highway is due to remain closed as emergency services attend to the scene.
The fatal incident comes as severe storms and heavy rain lash the state’s east coast, from the Illawarra to the Central Coast, with localised flooding reported.
More than 880 people have called the SES for help since the severe weather began, the majority of whom are from metropolitan areas.
NSW SES spokeswoman Emily Barton said that rain had been experienced ‘far and wide’ across the state.
‘We’ve got volunteers out responding, as we speak, to flood rescues, and there’s several incidents of leaking roofs and trees down,’ she said.
Dangerous storms continue to batter Australia’s east coast (pictured, cars washed away by the flood at Cumberland River Caravan Park near the Wye River, Victoria, on Friday)
A woman has died after a branch fell on her car while she was driving on the Illawarra Highway (street view pictured) at Macquarie Pass, south of Wollongong, on Saturday afternoon
Some coastal areas are at risk of severe thunderstorms bringing up to 120 millimetres of rain, strong winds and hail.
On the Central Coast, Ettalong saw 93.5mm of rain in one hour, while Pearl Beach recorded 133mm in two hours earlier in the day.
Gosford recorded 56.6mm of rain in one hour; 66mm fell at Bensville; and 71mm of rainfall was recorded at Koolewong.
Severe storms with heavy rain are forecast to affect Hornsby, Berowra, Dural, Sutherland, Sydney Airport and Glenorie, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
It said the weather systems were likely to ‘produce intense rainfall that may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding’.
Flights have been delayed at Sydney Airport and beaches have been closed in the city.
In addition, a strong wind warning has been issued for Sydney Harbour, Hunter Coast, Sydney Coast, Illawarra Coast and Batemans Coast.
Severe thunderstorms have also caused heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding, damaging winds and large hailstones near Moogerah Dam.
More than 880 people have called the SES for help since the severe weather began on Australia’s east coast (pictured, people escape flood waters on Friday)
Clean-up efforts are under way in parts of Victoria after torrential rain overfilled rivers along the Great Ocean Road
Meanwhile, clean-up efforts are under way in parts of Victoria after torrential rain quickly overfilled the Wye, Kennett and Cumberland rivers in holiday hotspots along the Great Ocean Road this week.
The extreme event carried huge amounts of water downstream, swamping campgrounds and upending vehicles.
Multiple cars remain stranded in the surf as authorities estimate that between 10 and 20 vehicles have been lost.
More than 178mm fell in the area in six hours, with the Lorne station registering its highest 24-hour rainfall total since records began in 1884.
Disaster assistance has been announced for flood-affected communities, with funding provided to councils for emergency relief centres.
