SYDNEY: A powerful weather system, described as a “bomb cyclone”, wreaked havoc across southeastern Australia on Wednesday, bringing widespread disruptions to flights, train services, and electricity infrastructure, especially in Sydney.
The intense coastal low-pressure system, packing wind gusts over 100 km/h, slammed into the region overnight, uprooting trees, damaging power lines, and dumping nearly a month’s worth of rain in just six hours in some areas.
According to Sydney Airport’s official website, at least 55 domestic flights operated by Qantas Airways and Virgin Australia were cancelled. Some international flights also experienced delays as operations were thrown into disarray.
Train services were significantly impacted, and emergency officials urged residents to avoid non-essential travel.
“Be really careful. It’s really wild out there,” warned NSW Emergency Services Chief Superintendent Dallas Burnes. “If you can delay travel, please do so.”
As daylight revealed the storm’s destruction, authorities braced for an even busier day of emergency response.
Power Outages and Damage Across New South Wales
More than 35,000 homes and businesses across New South Wales were left without electricity, as revealed by outage data. Roads in the Illawarra region south of Sydney were closed due to flooding and fallen trees.
In the Central Coast region, evacuation orders were issued due to severe coastal erosion, while several warnings for flash flooding and damaging winds remain in place.
What is a Bomb Cyclone?
Meteorologists describe a bomb cyclone as a system that rapidly intensifies, causing air pressure to plummet quickly, leading to extreme weather. These systems can unleash powerful winds, torrential rain, and destructive waves over a short period of time.
Storm Heads Toward New Zealand
Conditions are expected to remain intense throughout Wednesday before the system moves into the Tasman Sea and heads towards New Zealand by Thursday.
New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) has warned that the storm could bring heavy rainfall and strong winds to the North Island, continuing into the weekend.
Authorities across the region remain on high alert as the storm continues its destructive path.
