its snowing
http://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/snow-winds-and-floods-chaos-from-city-to-mountains/story-e6frflp0-1227090799100Snow, winds and floods — chaos from city to mountains
20 MINUTES AGO OCTOBER 15, 2014 11:19AM
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Severe weather hits Sydney
http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/external?url=http://content6.video.news.com.au/IwYnAzcToB6goO_XIJd7dkN-zbQGmJPa/promo237581305&width=650&api_key=kq7wnrk4eun47vz9c5xuj3mcEMERGENCY crews are battling to keep up with the massive amount of distress calls received by Sydneysiders after a mammoth storm left at least 30,000 homes without power.
More than 1200 people made calls for emergency help to the SES as storms battered NSW’s east coast through the night.
Torrential rain, lightning and even snow wreaked havoc with Sydneysiders who faced a slow trek in to work this morning as the clean-up begins.
The powerful storm which ravaged Sydney last night was much stronger than originally forecast. Wind gusts of up to 160km, torrential rain and lightning causing widespread mayhem from the city to the Blue Mountains.
NSW SES has described the number of emergency calls coming from distressed Sydneysiders as “abundant” in the last 24-hours and urged callers to “try again”.
“Due to a surge of calls to our Operation Centre overnight and this morning, some calls may not have been received or may have been busy,” posted NSWS SES.
“We thank you for your patience and if you were unable to get through we kindly ask you to try again and call 132 500 if necessary.”
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Lightning strikes Sydney overnight. Picture: Aaron Saye/Diimex
Lightning strikes Sydney overnight. Picture: Aaron Saye/Diimex Source: Supplied
“Our house flooded and our neighbors car floated away and is up side down in the storm water drain,” Bexley North's Brett Cross told news.com.au.
“I have two Harley Davidson motorcycles in my garage, both went under water.
“Our neighbors had to climb over the back fence with two young children because the water was 3 meters high at there front door.”
“Our neighbours car floated away”. Picture Cameron Richadson.
“Our neighbours car floated away”. Picture Cameron Richadson. Source: News Corp Australia
A car was swept in Bexley North through and into a canal. Picture Cameron Richadson.
A car was swept in Bexley North through and into a canal. Picture Cameron Richadson. Source: News Corp Australia
Sydney is recovering from severe storm damage. Picture: Cameron Richadson
Sydney is recovering from severe storm damage. Picture: Cameron Richadson Source: News Corp Australia
“Our neighbours had to climb over the back fence”.
“Our neighbours had to climb over the back fence”. Source: Supplied
The weather is forecast to ease later today as the intense storm system dissipates and heads north up the east coast. Rain and strong winds should subside by the evening and Thursday is expected to be mostly fine.
In the Blue Mountains, which experienced unseasonally heavy snow, strong winds and power outages overnight, the snow has now turned to sleety rain and the weather is also expected to ease today.
Train cancellations continue in the Blue Mountains this morning, with authorities warning Sky News “you’re not going to get through, its best to stay at home today”.
The east coast also copped winds of up to a category three tropical cyclone.
Most Sydney suburbs received over 100mm of rain in less than 12 hours. That’s up to twice the city’s monthly October average of 76mm in one night.
The wild weather is caused by a weather event called an East Coast Low, which is not uncommon. Several ECLs occur each year near Sydney, but this one is particularly cold for the time of year with a deep southerly flow, hence the snow in the Blue Mountains to elevations as low as 800 metres.
As many as 30 motorists had to be rescued from their flooded vehicles as the heavy downpour turned streets into “raging rivers”.
At one point the SES was taking a call a minute as desperate residents became caught in floodwaters or branches damaged their homes.
Fire & Rescue crews attended to clear stranded cars in Summer Hill in Sydney's inner west
Fire & Rescue crews attended to clear stranded cars in Summer Hill in Sydney's inner west. Picture: Ty Olliver Source: Supplied
“One car took on water and the people climbed through the windows to get out”, described
“One car took on water and the people climbed through the windows to get out”, described a witness. Picture: Ty Olliver Source: Supplied
Fire and Rescue NSW reported two cases of apparent lightning strikes on houses, one of which caused a large fire at a Kellyville two-storey home, but no one was reported hurt.
NSW’s south coast has been hit by the heaviest rainfall, with 170mm falling at Lake Conjola and 145mm at Ulladulla.
Sydney has also been drenched, with falls of 136mm at Sans Souci, 118 at Marrickville, 114 at Peakhurst and 113 at Strathfield.
Wattamolla, in Sydney’s Royal National Park, recorded wind gusts of 161km at 9.02pm
Up to 15cm of snow was recorded in parts of the Blue Mountains, although the SES said milder conditions and rain had begun thawing the snow by early morning on Wednesday.
A number of cars were damaged by tree branches brought down by snow, and one family had to be rescued after becoming trapped in their car by a fallen tree.
Thousands of homes in Sydney’s south have experienced power cuts, including in Bexley, Bankstown and Blakehurst.
More than 50 flood rescues were performed last night and the state will now turn to the massive task of cleaning up even as rain continues to fall this morning.
For the second time in 24-hours, commuters had to be rescued from a stranded train, with 60 stuck on their trip from Kingsgrove to Bexley North.
Police reported more than 100 streets and roads suffered flash flooding, and as much as 60mm of rain was dumped in less than an hour, with traffic light blackouts adding to the chaos.
At the peak of the storm, which hit Sydney at 9.10pm, 5500 homes in the south lost power as police, firefighters and SES attended more than 1200 weather-related emergencies.
Sydney Airport recorded wind gusts of up to 100km/h and received 35mm of rain, forcing delays to domestic and international flights.
Flooding to south-side entry of the Sydney Harbour Tunnel brought traffic to a halt, with police warning motorists to seek alternative routes across the harbour. The M5 tunnel at Arncliffe also began filling with water.
AFTERMATH OF THE NSW STORMS
Power outages:
*About 30,000 homes and business without power across Sydney metro area, western Sydney, Illawarra, Central Coast.
* Ausgrid reports 14,000 customers without power *
* Endeavour Energy reports 14,600 customers without power *
* Most supply issues expected to be resolved later this morning
Sydney Airport:
* More than a dozen flight departures cancelled and others delayed Wednesday
* Flow-on effects to impact Canberra, Melbourne
* About 32 flights were affected last night
* Sydney Airport crew are mopping up after the baggage collection area flooded
Transport and roads:
* Blue Mountains train line partially closed between Lithgow-Katoomba
* Great Western Highway and Bells Line of Road closed in Blue Mountains due to flooding, snow and ice
* Penrith’s Castlereagh Road closed at Jane Street, Oxford Falls Road closed at Oxford Falls, Royal National Park Audley Weir closed
* T3 Bankstown Line and T2 Airport Line train passengers facing long journey times
* A number of traffic lights are also blacked out or flashing yellow across Sydney
Weather outlook:
* Rains to continue across Sydney metro, south and central coast areas
* Severe wind warning for Sydney metro, Hunter and Illawarra. Gusts of up to 125km/hr in some coastal areas.
* Heavy rain may lead to flash flooding in the Hunter * Conditions expected to ease later Wednesday
