Name: Sydney and Central Coast hit by wild storms
Uploaded: 2026-01-18T06:28:50.033Z
Duration: 3 min 4 s
Description: Roads have been inundated, trees uprooted, motorists trapped, and residents rescued as heavy rain and flash flooding lashed large parts of Sydney and the NSW Central Coast.

Roads have been inundated, trees uprooted, motorists trapped, and residents rescued as heavy rain and flash flooding lashed large parts of Sydney and the NSW Central Coast.

Warriewood

Sydney's northern beaches and surrounding regions experienced severe weather, with heavy rain turning roads into rapids and prompting widespread flash flooding. State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers conducted 25 flood rescues and responded to over 2,070 calls for assistance as slippery roads, fallen trees, and landslides created hazardous conditions.

Evacuations were ordered for waterfront residents and campers at Narrabeen Lagoon, while a landslide at Great Mackerel Beach forced three residents to leave their homes. Rainfall totals reached record highs in several locations, with Motervale experiencing a one-in-50-year rain event. Despite the challenging conditions, some residents continued their daily routines, demonstrating resilience amid the storms.

Sydney and Central Coast hit by wild storms

A wild ride on Sydney's northern beaches as rain turned roads into rapids. We're going to sink, we're going to sink. The deluge widespread, a driver saved after his car was caught in the city's south-west, while this unlucky pea-plater got stuck in the inner south among 25 flood rescues performed by SES volunteers across the state. The roads are extremely wet and unpredictable as well. Slippery conditions saw a Mercedes driver take down power lines in the south-west, while further north a truck span out and blocked three lanes on the M1. Crews worked overtime as roads disappeared under flash flooding, sparking closures across the city and central coast. But for many, it was too late. Oh, they're done. Those on the waterfront were on high alert. My landlady came over and said prepare to evacuate. Including campers at Narrabeen Lagoon, back on site today after an overnight evacuation order sent them to higher ground. They just said you've got to go. Everyone in the front row, they just more or less said that's it, you've got to pack up. So everyone did it. You have to. My mum and dad were here last night in the caravan. I think it was a little bit of a panic last night, getting the knock on the caravan door, being woken up, told to evacuate. We kept a constant eye on it. We're up every hour or so. It was just too hard, we had nowhere to go. Meanwhile, there was a close shave for locals in the remote Great Mackerel Beach. There was a landslide that was experienced. This did impact three residents. Fortunately though, all three residents were able to evacuate. The landslip came as the area copped 264 millimetres in just 24 hours. Nearby Terry Hills saw 180. Further south, Wattamulla recorded 259 millimetres, a January record. And on the northern beaches... At Motervale, we saw 64 millimetres of rainfall fall in 45 minutes, which is classified as intense rainfall, which is a one in 50 year kind of event. Car parks turned into pools and rivers were left swollen, while the sodden soil proved havoc for fallen trees, adding to a growing list of call outs. We have received, just in the last 24 hours, over 2,070 calls for assistance. This is just one of the jobs that has SES crews run off their feet this morning. A large gum has come crashing down on a woman's property. Thankfully it missed her home, but it is blocking her driveway, meaning she won't be able to leave any time soon. But her neighbour wasn't so lucky. We were woken up about 11.30, big bang, thought it was lightning, opened our curtains and just all we could see was leaves and branches and bits of gutter. The coast is continuing to copper battering, but not everyone was deterred. I'd say that's pretty sketchy to be out there right now. Braving the downpour to stretch their legs, the Sydney-siders who took the sogginess in their stride. I said to my husband, we had to take my dog for a walk and he said yes, she needs a walk and I'm like, oh lord, she's going to get soaked. Hannah Stewart, 10 News.

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