Forecast

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
New South Wales

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

Detailed Severe Thunderstorm Warning
for Intense Rainfall

for parts of Gosford/Wyong, Sydney and Blue Mountains/Hawkesbury areas.

Issued at 6:06 pm Saturday, 17 January 2026.

INTENSE RAINFALL WITH THUNDERSTORMS SOUTHERN CENTRAL COAST.

INTENSE RAINFALL for the following areas:
Blue Mountains/Hawkesbury, Gosford/Wyong and Sydney
The Bureau of Meteorology warns that, at 6:00 pm, a VERY DANGEROUS THUNDERSTORM likely to produce heavy, locally intense rainfall that may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding was detected near Calga and Woy Woy. This thunderstorm is slow moving. It is forecast to affect Upper Mangrove by 7:00 pm.
Other severe thunderstorms likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding were detected near Bundeena and Kurnell. These thunderstorms are slow moving. They are forecast to affect Hurstville, Botany and waters off the Royal National Park by 6:30 pm and Sutherland, Sydney Airport and Canterbury by 7:00 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 parts of the Hunter, Metropolitan and Illawarra districts.
Other warnings may be current.

The next warning is due to be issued by 7:10 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.

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
New South Wales

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

Detailed Severe Thunderstorm Warning
for Intense Rainfall

for parts of Gosford/Wyong, Sydney and Blue Mountains/Hawkesbury areas.

Issued at 6:06 pm Saturday, 17 January 2026.

INTENSE RAINFALL WITH THUNDERSTORMS SOUTHERN CENTRAL COAST.

INTENSE RAINFALL for the following areas:
Blue Mountains/Hawkesbury, Gosford/Wyong and Sydney
The Bureau of Meteorology warns that, at 6:00 pm, a VERY DANGEROUS THUNDERSTORM likely to produce heavy, locally intense rainfall that may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding was detected near Calga and Woy Woy. This thunderstorm is slow moving. It is forecast to affect Upper Mangrove by 7:00 pm.
Other severe thunderstorms likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding were detected near Bundeena and Kurnell. These thunderstorms are slow moving. They are forecast to affect Hurstville, Botany and waters off the Royal National Park by 6:30 pm and Sutherland, Sydney Airport and Canterbury by 7:00 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 parts of the Hunter, Metropolitan and Illawarra districts.
Other warnings may be current.

The next warning is due to be issued by 7:10 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.