Lightning strike shuts down metro, tornado spins in southern NSW

Sydney has been lashed with heavy rains and powerful winds as a storm hit the city, with a lightning strike causing a portion of the metro network to shut down ahead of peak hour and stranding a carriage full of passengers.

Meanwhile, a tornado whirled across south-west NSW on Wednesday afternoon, and large swaths of the state faced flash-flooding and severe weather warnings as a low-pressure system rolled in from the west. It’s forecast to linger throughout the night and into Thursday morning.

The Sydney Metro network was thrown into chaos when services between Barangaroo and Macquarie Park were shut down for about an hour on Wednesday afternoon due to a power supply issue at Chatswood.

Sydney Trains co-ordinator-general Howard Collins said a lightning strike hit overhead wiring, causing the temporary closure and a train to be stopped in the tunnel between Chatswood and Macquarie Park.

“One train is stuck in the tunnel with people, including schoolchildren, on board, and it is unable to move after a lightning strike,” Collins said on 2GB while the situation was unfolding.

“There’s a lot of rain throughout Sydney, which could lead to hazardous conditions throughout the night.”

Passengers were eventually evacuated before the network resumed total service about 5pm.

As much as 50 millimetres of rain has fallen on the city and south to the Illawarra on Wednesday. The BoM is urging Sydneysiders to stay alert to the possibility of localised flash-flooding in the evening.

From 9am this morning, Campbelltown received 51 millimetres and Mona Vale 46 millimetres.

South of Sydney, where a severe weather warning is in place, the Wollongong coast and Mount Pleasant region received 81 millimetres, Port Kembla 70 millimetres and Bellambi 58 millimetres.

“We may see some severe storms moving into the Sydney area,” senior BoM meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said on Wednesday afternoon. “We could see the damaging wind gusts, large hail, flash flooding and heavy rainfall that could lead to flash-flooding.”

A coastal low-pressure system offshore could cause gale-force winds and generate powerful and damaging surf conditions on Wednesday and Thursday.

Hazardous surf warnings are in place for much of NSW, including Sydney, from the Mid North Coast to the Illawarra and south to Batemans Bay.

The NSW SES has urged communities in the Illawarra, South Coast and nearby ranges to be alert to potential flash-flooding as much of the state is expected to experience damaging wind gusts of 90 to 110km/h, and large hail of two to four centimetres.

NSW SES State Assistant Commissioner Dean Storey said crews had already responded to “several incidents”.

NSW SES performed a flood rescue in Wattamolla around 1pm on Wednesday, helping a group of three bushwalkers trapped between two rising streams.

“Flash-flooding can occur quickly and without warning. We implore motorists to never drive, walk or ride through floodwaters – if you come across a flooded road, turn around and find an alternative route,” Storey said.

The heavy rainfall is being delivered by a complex low moving over that part of the state which will move offshore around Jervis Bay by Thursday morning.

NSW SES warns South Coast residents to avoid floodwaters, creeks and storm drains. The region also faces unique risks because of bushfire damage, with run-off from rainfall behaving differently in fire-affected areas.

Run-off water can travel more quickly and contain debris, including ash, soil, trees and rocks. The loss of foliage also heightens the risk of landslides when heavy rain makes the ground soft and heavy.

A further severe weather warning has been issued to the northern ranges. Damaging westerly wind gusts of up to 90km/h are expected to appear in the Hunter, Mid North Coast and Northern Tablelands from Thursday morning.

Storms sweeping through the south-west slopes near Young even conjured a tornado, images released by NSW RFS show. The BoM confirmed it was recorded about 3.30pm.

But relief from the rain is imminent.

“The good news is that while it will stay wet tomorrow morning, we’re going to start to see that wet weather become patchier and start to dry out through the afternoon,” Bradbury said. “Going into tomorrow evening, we are really expecting much drier weather across the city, much clearer skies as well.”

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.