"Don't Go Outside"…A Month's Worth of Rain Pours in One Day in Sydney

Unprecedented Heavy Rainfall Across New South Wales (NSW), Australia

Unusually heavy rainfall has poured across New South Wales (NSW), including Australia's largest city Sydney, prompting authorities to issue a stay-at-home advisory for residents.

According to a report by the Sydney Morning Herald on the 5th (local time), the Australian Bureau of Meteorology reported that 111mm of rain fell in Sydney over a 24-hour period from the previous day to the morning of the 5th.

On the 5th (local time), heavy rain that struck eastern Australia caused water to overflow at the Parramatta Wharf in Sydney.
[Photo by AFP/Yonhap News]

Evacuation orders have also been issued in some areas. Local Australian media reported that the NSW Emergency Services issued evacuation orders to residents in coastal areas such as Warriewood, North Narrabeen, and Narrabeen Peninsula, warning of risks due to rising sea levels.

Earlier, the heavy rain damaged facilities at Redfern Station, a transport hub connecting 11 train lines in downtown Sydney, causing inconvenience for commuters. More than 100 flights at Sydney Airport were canceled, and power supply was cut off in some parts of the city center.

The rainfall was just slightly below the average monthly rainfall for April (121.5mm), with local media explaining that "the amount of rain expected for a whole month fell in a single day."

In addition to the heavy rain, gusts of wind reaching speeds of up to 90 km/h blew, leading Australian authorities to issue flood warnings and urge residents to avoid unnecessary outings.

On the 4th, tourists are climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia holding umbrellas.
[Photo by Sydney AFP/Yonhap News]

Chris Minns, Premier of NSW, described it as a "significant weather anomaly" and emphasized that "it is important not to take unnecessary risks."

The NSW Emergency Services reported receiving over 500 calls related to the heavy rain. Meanwhile, Sydney authorities stated that the Warragamba Dam, which supplies 80% of Sydney's water, reached 96% capacity as of the morning, raising concerns about possible overflow.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology forecasted that rain would continue until the 6th. They added, "Heavy rain, gusty showers, and thunderstorms are expected to spread more widely south of Gosford, including mountain ranges and plateaus," and "heavy rain that could lead to flash flooding is expected in southern areas such as Sydney, Illawarra, and the Central Tablelands, with conditions expected to ease in northern areas by Saturday."