A powerful thunderstorm has wreaked havoc across New South Wales, leaving one person dead, thousands in the dark, and widespread damage in its wake.
In Cowra, an elderly driver tragically lost his life when the storm tore through central NSW. Meanwhile, four others were injured in Wagga Wagga when high winds ripped the roofs off their demountable huts. The driver has not yet been formally identified.
NSW State Emergency Service crews have been inundated with calls for help, responding to over 1800 incidents in just 24 hours. Most of these were related to fallen trees and property damage. The storm also caused chaos on the power grid, leaving more than 120,000 customers without electricity. Newcastle has been hit the hardest, with over 60,000 outages, followed by 31,000 in Sydney and 4000 on the Central Coast.
At Royal North Shore Hospital, a fallen tree created significant problems, while in Carlingford, 14 people had to find alternative accommodation after the storm tore the roof off their building.
The Bureau of Meteorology warns that severe thunderstorms will continue to combine with a low-pressure system, bringing even more rain. Up to 80mm is expected by Saturday, with Friday set to see the heaviest downpours, with some areas bracing for up to 100mm.
A minor flood watch has been issued for several regions, including the Orara, Coffs Coast, Bellinger, and Kalang river catchments, along with other areas such as Manning, Gloucester, and the Paterson and Williams rivers.
Authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant, take precautions, and monitor updates as the storm system continues its path through the state.
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