Sydney storms: One man killed, 200,000 without power after massive storm front lashes NSW
The NSW SES are expecting a day of unprecedented call-outs after one of the most severe storms in recent memory swept across the state wreaking havoc, and claiming at least one life.
Lightning strikes rained down on the greater Sydney basin for more than an hour on Wednesday night sparking fires in many suburbs and leaving over 200,000 people without power into Thursday morning.
Reports of incidents began south of Wollongong at around 9pm as the storm cell moved rapidly into Sydney and north to Newcastle and the mid-north coast.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Police reported a man has been been killed in the Central West of NSW amid high winds and lightning strikes that played havoc with the electricity grid in a “widespread event” according to Ausgrid’s Junayd Hollis.
A driver died after a tree fell on his vehicle in the state’s Central West on Wednesday, with emergency services called to Lachlan Valley Way, Cowra.
The man, beleived to be in his 80’s was found dead at the scene with officers attached to Chifley police district establishing a crime scene and commencing an investigation into the incident.
As Sydneysiders woke to power outages, localised fires, trees down in streets and warnings to stay at home if possible the State Emergency reported more than 1200 callouts with many more expected throughout the day.
More than 143,000 properties are reportedly without power across the Hunter, northern Sydney, broader Wollongong area and more rural areas.
At about 8.30pm, the Bureau of Meteorology issued sever weather warnings for storms in Sydney that could bring flash flooding as the weather swept through Parramatta, Sydney Airport at Mascot, the CBD and the eastern suburbs.
Newcastle and the upper Hunter region braced for impact which arrived around 10pm affecting coastal and regional areas for over and hour with many houses and businesses left without power and suffering damage.
Sydney is in the grip of a crippling train strike and many traffic lights are not working due to power otages as the city grinds to a halt in the midst of a ‘perfect storm’ for commuters.
