Forecast

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
New South Wales

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

Severe Thunderstorm Warning
for Heavy, Locally Intense Rainfall

for parts of Hunter, Metropolitan, Illawarra and Mid North Coast Forecast Districts.

Issued at 11:06 pm Saturday, 17 January 2026.

HEAVY TO LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL ABOUT THE SOUTHWEST SYDNEY METROPOLITAN AREA AND HUNTER

Weather Situation
A trough along central parts of the coast is generating areas of showers and isolated thunderstorms, with some of these delivering heavy to intense rainfall.
HEAVY, LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL for the following areas:
Mid North Coast, Hunter, Metropolitan and Illawarra
VERY DANGEROUS THUNDERSTORMS are likely to produce heavy, locally intense rainfall that may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include Newcastle, Gosford, Campbelltown, Morisset, Wyong and Cessnock.
Severe thunderstorms are no longer occurring in the Central Tablelands district and the warning for this district is CANCELLED.
138.5 MM OF RAINFALL WAS RECORDED AT KULNURA IN THE 3 HOURS TO 9:15 PM.
125.5 mm of rainfall was recorded at Woy Woy in the 6 hours to 7:37 pm.
114.6 mm of rainfall was recorded at Mangrove Mountain in the 6 hours to 10:45 pm.
88.6 mm of rainfall was recorded at Camden Airport in the 6 hours to 10:45 pm.
87.6 mm of rainfall was recorded at Mount Annan in the 6 hours to 10:45 pm.
84.4 mm of rainfall was recorded at Norah Head in the 2 hours to 10:45 pm.
82.0 mm of rainfall was recorded at Mona Vale in the 3 hours to 10:45 pm
Cancellation for the following areas:
Central Tablelands

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).

The next warning is due to be issued by 2:10 am Sunday.
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.

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
New South Wales

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

Severe Thunderstorm Warning
for Heavy, Locally Intense Rainfall

for parts of Hunter, Metropolitan, Illawarra and Mid North Coast Forecast Districts.

Issued at 11:06 pm Saturday, 17 January 2026.

HEAVY TO LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL ABOUT THE SOUTHWEST SYDNEY METROPOLITAN AREA AND HUNTER

Weather Situation
A trough along central parts of the coast is generating areas of showers and isolated thunderstorms, with some of these delivering heavy to intense rainfall.
HEAVY, LOCALLY INTENSE RAINFALL for the following areas:
Mid North Coast, Hunter, Metropolitan and Illawarra
VERY DANGEROUS THUNDERSTORMS are likely to produce heavy, locally intense rainfall that may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include Newcastle, Gosford, Campbelltown, Morisset, Wyong and Cessnock.
Severe thunderstorms are no longer occurring in the Central Tablelands district and the warning for this district is CANCELLED.
138.5 MM OF RAINFALL WAS RECORDED AT KULNURA IN THE 3 HOURS TO 9:15 PM.
125.5 mm of rainfall was recorded at Woy Woy in the 6 hours to 7:37 pm.
114.6 mm of rainfall was recorded at Mangrove Mountain in the 6 hours to 10:45 pm.
88.6 mm of rainfall was recorded at Camden Airport in the 6 hours to 10:45 pm.
87.6 mm of rainfall was recorded at Mount Annan in the 6 hours to 10:45 pm.
84.4 mm of rainfall was recorded at Norah Head in the 2 hours to 10:45 pm.
82.0 mm of rainfall was recorded at Mona Vale in the 3 hours to 10:45 pm
Cancellation for the following areas:
Central Tablelands

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).

The next warning is due to be issued by 2:10 am Sunday.
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.