Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
New South Wales
TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST
Detailed Severe Thunderstorm Warning
for Intense Rainfall
for Gosford/Wyong and parts of Blue Mountains/Hawkesbury, Maitland/Cessnock, Greater Newcastle, Sydney and Wollondilly/Wingecarribee areas.
Issued at 9:10 pm Saturday, 17 January 2026.
INTENSE RAINFALL ABOUT NORTHERN SYDNEY SUBURBS AND CENTRAL COAST.
INTENSE RAINFALL for the following areas:
Blue Mountains/Hawkesbury, Maitland/Cessnock, Greater Newcastle, Gosford/Wyong, Sydney and Wollondilly/Wingecarribee
The Bureau of Meteorology warns that, at 9:05 pm, VERY DANGEROUS THUNDERSTORMS likely to produce heavy, locally intense rainfall that may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding were detected near Mona Vale and Wyong. These thunderstorms are moving towards the northwest. They are forecast to affect Hornsby, Woy Woy and Budgewoi by 9:35 pm and Gosford, Calga and the Yengo National Park northwest of St Albans by 10:05 pm.
Another severe thunderstorm likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding was detected near Camden and Campbelltown. This thunderstorm is slow moving. It is forecast to affect Menangle and Theresa Park by 9:35 pm and Macquarie Fields by 10:05 pm.
133 MM OF RAINFALL WAS RECORDED AT PEARL BEACH IN THE 2 HOURS TO 3:43 PM.
93.5 MM OF RAINFALL WAS RECORDED AT ETTALONG IN THE 1 HOUR TO 2:22 PM.
67 mm was recorded at Cronulla South in the 2 hour to 5:35 pm.
58 mm of rainfall was recorded at East Gosford in the 1 hour to 2:55 pm.
56.6 mm of rainfall was recorded at Gosford in the 1 hour to 2:53 pm.
66 mm of rainfall was recorded at Bensville in the 1 hour to 2:49 pm.
57 mm of rainfall was recorded at Kilcare Heights in the 1 hour to 2:39 pm.
65 mm of rainfall was recorded at Woy Woy in the 1 hour to 2:33 pm.
48.5 mm of rainfall was recorded at Kincumber Mountain in the 30 minutes to 2:30 pm.
71 mm of rainfall was recorded at Koolewong in the 1 hour to 2:26 pm.
62.5 mm of rainfall was recorded at Avalon in the 1 hour to 2:13 pm.
The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
* 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, ring the SES on 132 500.
Stay updated on the Hazards Near Me NSW app or the ACT ESA website (https://esa.act.gov.au).
A more general severe thunderstorm warning is also current for the Metropolitan and parts of the Hunter, Illawarra and Central Tablelands districts.
Other warnings may be current.
The next warning is due to be issued by 10:10 pm.
Check https://www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/warnings-and-alerts. Warnings are also available through TV and Radio broadcasts or call 1300 659 210. The Bureau and State Emergency Service would appreciate warnings being broadcast regularly.
Forecast
Cobar Park (33.4699°S, 150.155°E, 941m AMSL) set as my default location ›
-
7 day forecast
Today: Cloudy. Very high chance of showers about the Blue Mountains, medium chance elsewhere. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning and early afternoon. Winds E/SE 25 to 40 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 12 and 17 with daytime temperatures reaching between 16 and 26.
Forecast for Cobar Park (33.4699°S, 150.155°E, 941m AMSL) Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Summary
Minimum 12° 11° 11° 9° 9° 11° 13° Maximum 16° 18° 19° 22° 26° 25° 28° Chance of rain 70% 60% 60% 5% 30% 40% 30% Likely amount 1-5mm 1-5mm < 1mm < 1mm < 1mm < 1mm < 1mm UV index Extreme Extreme Extreme Extreme Extreme Extreme Extreme Fire Danger Rating High High High High - - - Frost risk Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm 9am 3pm Wind speed 18
(km/h)20
(km/h)14
(km/h)16
(km/h)12
(km/h)14
(km/h)4
(km/h)9
(km/h)2
(km/h)8
(km/h)6
(km/h)5
(km/h)7
(km/h)7
(km/h)Wind direction SE SSE ESE SE SE SE SSE S WNW SSW ENE NE NNE NW Relative humidity 93% 91% 86% 69% 80% 61% 70% 39% 62% 40% 70% 46% 72% 40% Dew point 14°C 13°C 12°C 11°C 12°C 10°C 10°C 7°C 11°C 10°C 12°C 12°C 15°C 12°C -
Sunrise and sunset times
Sunrise / Sunset for Cobar Park (33.4699°S, 150.155°E, 941m AMSL) First light Sunrise Sunset Last light Moon rise Moon set Moon phase New moon First quarter Full moon Last quarter 5:39am EDT 6:07am EDT 8:12pm EDT 8:40pm EDT 5:03am EDT 8:02pm EDT
Waning crescent
New moon Jan 19 First quarter Jan 26 Full moon Feb 02 Last quarter Feb 09 -
Warnings
- Severe Storm Warning (Intense Rain) Gosford/Wyong & Blue Mountains/Hawkesbury, Maitland/Cessnock, Greater Newcastle, Syd
- Severe Storm Warning (Intense Rain) Gosford/Wyong & Blue Mountains/Hawkesbury, Maitland/Cessnock, Greater Newcastle, Syd
- Severe Thunderstorm Warning (Heavy, Locally Intense Rainfall) for Metropolitan and parts of Hunter, Illawarra and Central Tablelands
- Severe Thunderstorm Warning (Heavy, Locally Intense Rainfall) for Metropolitan and parts of Hunter, Illawarra and Central Tablelands
-
Temperature for next 7 days
-
Rain for next 7 days