Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
New South Wales
TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST
Severe Weather Warning
for Heavy Rainfall
for Metropolitan and parts of Illawarra, Central Tablelands and Hunter Forecast Districts.
Issued at 10:03 pm Thursday, 26 February 2026.
Heavy rainfall continues through Sydney and adjacent areas overnight, easing early on Friday morning.
Weather Situation
A slow moving trough has stalled about the Sydney Metropolitan area is bringing persistent heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms onshore to the area.
HEAVY RAINFALL for the following areas:
Hunter, Metropolitan, Illawarra and Central Tablelands
HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is possible throughout the Sydney Metropolitan area and in adjacent parts of the Blue Mountains, Hunter and northern Illawarra overnight. Three to six-hourly rainfall totals between 40 and 80 mm are possible.
Heavy rainfall is expected to ease below warning thresholds early tomorrow morning as the trough weakens.
Locations which may be affected include Sydney, Campbelltown, Penrith, Parramatta and Springwood.
109.0 MM WAS RECORDED AT LIDCOMBE IN THE 6 HOURS TO 9:45 PM.
67.0 mm was recorded at Guildford in the 3 hours to 8:48 pm.
65.8 mm was recorded at Horsley Park in the 3 hours to 8:37 pm.
71.6 mm was recorded at Bankstown Airport in the 3 hours to 8:23 pm.
55.0 mm was recorded at Liverpool in the 3 hours to 8:15 pm.
71.0 mm was recorded at Canterbury in the 3 hours to 8:06 pm.
The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
* Don't drive, ride or walk through flood water.
* Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.
* If you are trapped by flash flooding, seek refuge in the highest available place and ring 000 if you need rescue.
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).
The next Severe Weather Warning will be issued by 5:00 am AEDT Friday.
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
Macquarie Hills (32.9532°S, 151.6471°E, 89m AMSL) set as my default location ›
-
7 day forecast
Today: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers about the Lower Hunter, medium chance elsewhere. The chance of a thunderstorm, possibly severe with heavy rain which may lead to flash flooding near the coast in the afternoon and evening. Winds S/SE 15 to 20 km/h tending E/SE 20 to 30 km/h during the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between 16 and 20 with daytime temperatures reaching 22 to 29.
Forecast for Macquarie Hills (32.9532°S, 151.6471°E, 89m AMSL) Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Summary
Minimum 21° 21° 20° 19° 19° 20° 20° Maximum 25° 26° 27° 28° 29° 31° 31° Chance of rain 70% 60% 50% 30% 5% 20% 50% Likely amount 1-5mm 1-5mm < 1mm < 1mm < 1mm < 1mm 1-5mm UV index Extreme Very High Very High Extreme Extreme Extreme Extreme Fire Danger Rating Moderate High Moderate 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 22
(km/h)27
(km/h)19
(km/h)26
(km/h)15
(km/h)27
(km/h)19
(km/h)32
(km/h)19
(km/h)30
(km/h)19
(km/h)31
(km/h)12
(km/h)24
(km/h)Wind direction SE ESE ESE ESE E E ENE E NE E NE E NNE ESE Relative humidity 84% 82% 78% 75% 79% 74% 74% 67% 69% 64% 71% 66% 70% 69% Dew point 21°C 20°C 19°C 20°C 20°C 20°C 19°C 19°C 17°C 20°C 20°C 22°C 20°C 22°C -
Sunrise and sunset times
Sunrise / Sunset for Macquarie Hills (32.9532°S, 151.6471°E, 89m AMSL) First light Sunrise Sunset Last light Moon rise Moon set Moon phase Full moon Last quarter New moon First quarter 6:14am EDT 6:39am EDT 7:32pm EDT 7:57pm EDT 4:47pm EDT 1:31am EDT
Waxing gibbous
Full moon Mar 03 Last quarter Mar 11 New moon Mar 19 First quarter Mar 26 -
Warnings
-
Temperature for next 7 days
-
Rain for next 7 days