Severe storms batter NSW and Victoria, triggering flash floods and emergency rescues, Australia
Severe thunderstorms struck New South Wales (NSW) and eastern Victoria on Monday, February 10, 2025, bringing heavy rainfall, flash flooding, and large hailstones, with emergency services responding to over 500 calls for assistance.
A vehicle going through flood water in New South Wales in Monday, February 10, 2025. Image credit: Earl White
Severe thunderstorms moved across New South Wales (NSW) and eastern Victoria on February 10, 2025, bringing heavy rains, damaging winds, and hail.
The storm moved over Sydney’s central business district (CBD) around noon, bringing 52.8 mm (2.08 inches) by mid-afternoon. Horsley Park registered 88 mm (3.46 inches) in the same period.
In the 24 hours leading up to 09:00 LT on Monday, Murrumburrah, north of Gundagai, recorded 89 mm (3.50 inches) of rainfall. Coonabarabran received 61 mm (2.40 inches) overnight, while Gunnedah recorded 43 mm (1.69 inches), and Mount Palmer in the Hunter region measured 54 mm (2.13 inches).
Shortly after 16:00 LT on Monday, the Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe thunderstorm warning for heavy rainfall, large hailstones, and damaging winds across the northern interior of NSW. The warning covered parts of the north-west and central-west slopes and plains, as well as the Riverina and the upper and lower western districts.
Orbost in Victoria recorded approximately 28 mm (1.10 inches) of rainfall on Monday. The storm also produced hailstones measuring 2 – 6 cm (0.79 – 2.36 inches) in Boorowa, Harden, and Temora.
Between 12:00 and 14:00, the State Emergency Service (SES) rescued 21 people from vehicles trapped in flash flooding across the Sydney metropolitan area.
Since midnight, the SES had responded to over 500 calls for assistance due to fallen trees, roof damage, and sandbag requests, particularly in southern and central western NSW and metropolitan Sydney.
A low-pressure trough extending through NSW fueled the storm, drawing moisture from the north and the ocean, intensifying showers, storms, and rainfall across multiple areas. The system remains stationary and could bring severe weather conditions into February 11, 2025.
References:
1 Storms sweep NSW and Victoria with 21 people rescued from vehicles in Sydney flash floods – The Guardian -February 10, 2024
2 Huge parts of NSW’s east coast battered with heavy rain, hailstones, and thunderstorms – 9 NEWS -February 10, 2024
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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