sydney storm warnings intensified as severe thunderstorms that passed Canberra are now threatening bordering towns, the Bureau of Meteorology warned at 2: 40am ET on March 21. The bureau said residents in Yass and Cooma face life-threatening flash flooding, damaging winds and large hail over the next several hours. Emergency authorities issued clear safety guidance and urged communities to prepare immediately.
Sydney Storm: Key developments
The Bureau of Meteorology no longer held a specific warning for Canberra itself but issued urgent warnings for nearby towns, naming Yass and Cooma as areas at highest risk. The bureau warned of life-threatening flash flooding, damaging winds and large hail, and noted in its message that “An upper-level trough is aligning with a surface trough over the southern half of the state this afternoon to produce slow-moving severe thunderstorms in a humid environment. ” That warning was issued at 2: 40am ET on March 21; a prior alert was issued at 12: 30am ET the same day that highlighted the potential for significant showers and severe hail across much of the territory and surrounding areas, including Goulburn, Yass, Young and Bowral.
Local measurements recorded rapid, intense rainfall: Goulbourn received 32. 5 millimetres of rain within 30 minutes, underscoring the flash-flood risk for urban and low-lying areas.
Immediate reactions
Emergency services stepped up public safety guidance. The State Emergency Services issued practical safety advice for residents facing severe conditions and immediate hazards:
- Park your car under secure cover and away from trees, powerlines and drains.
- Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.
- Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.
- Don’t walk, ride your bike or drive through flood water.
- If you are trapped by flash flooding, seek refuge in the highest available place and ring 000 if you need rescue.
- Stay indoors away from windows, and keep children and pets indoors as well.
For emergency help in flood and storms, the State Emergency Services can be reached on 132 500.
What’s next
The Bureau of Meteorology warned that the risk will continue “over the next several hours, ” and communities in the named towns should remain on alert and ready to follow emergency instructions. Authorities will monitor slow-moving cells in a humid environment that can produce intense rainfall, hail and damaging gusts; any escalation of conditions will prompt further warnings and targeted safety directions. Stay tuned to official warnings and have an emergency plan ready as crews remain on alert. The sydney storm threat will be reassessed as new observations and warnings are issued.
