A powerful “bomb cyclone” has hit Sydney, Australia’s largest city, unleashing heavy rainfall and strong winds that have disrupted daily life and travel across New South Wales (NSW). The severe weather has forced airlines to cancel multiple domestic flights and prompted evacuation warnings in vulnerable coastal communities.
The storm is expected to intensify over the next 24 hours, with authorities warning that some areas in NSW could receive up to 250 millimeters (9.8 inches) of rain and experience winds reaching speeds of 125 kilometers per hour (78 mph). Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib described the system as “enormous” and cautioned that conditions would worsen before improving.
FILE PHOTO: Qantas Airways planes are parked at the domestic terminal at Sydney airport in Australia, July 1, 2017. Picture taken July 1, 2017. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo
Residents in areas prone to coastal erosion have been advised to evacuate, while minor flood warnings remain in place for several communities along the Mid North Coast. The impact on air travel has been significant, with Qantas canceling at least 11 domestic flights from Sydney and Virgin Australia canceling 12 flights. However, international flights continue to operate as normal.
According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, a bomb cyclone, or bombogenesis, is a rapidly intensifying low-pressure system that causes a dramatic drop in atmospheric pressure. The current system is forecasted to move offshore into the Tasman Sea by Wednesday, easing by Thursday.
Senior Meteorologist Helen Reid warned that damaging winds and rough seas will persist along much of the coast through Wednesday, with weather warnings expected to continue. By Friday, the storm’s effects are predicted to subside, leaving only light isolated showers along the east coast.
Residents are urged to stay alert and follow official guidance as the bomb cyclone moves through the region.
