Severe storms have wreaked havoc across Northern New South Wales, causing extensive damage and knocking out power for tens of thousands of homes. The tumultuous weather, which struck on the night of Wednesday, January 15, unleashed wind speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour, affecting areas from Lake Macquarie to Scone. According to the New South Wales State Emergency Service (NSW SES), Newcastle bore the brunt of the outages, which saw over 60,000 homes left without electricity, nearly doubling the number of outages reported in Sydney.
Emergency services remained busy as they worked to address the aftermath of the storm. By Thursday morning, parts of Wallsend, Shortland, Cardiff, and surrounding suburbs remained without power, significantly impacting daily life for residents. NSW SES chief superintendent Dallas Burnes reported, "We have received more than 2,250 calls across the state, and our teams have responded to over 1,800 incidents primarily involving fallen trees and property damage." With reports indicating over 1,100 outstanding jobs, the emergency response continues.
The storm's fury did not only damage property; it caused significant disruptions on local infrastructure. All traffic lights were down on the Pacific Highway between Hexham Bridge and Raymond Terrace, prompting warnings from authorities for motorists to exercise caution.
Further compounding the issues, heavy rainfall led to flooding concerns, with flood watches currently active for the Lower Hunter’s catchment areas. Hunter Water staff are facing challenges restoring water supply to several regions, particularly around Nelson Bay, with water treatment plants and pump stations impacted. A spokesperson cautioned customers to expect low pressure and discolored water as supply is gradually restored.
Residents have been advised to avoid swimming and other water activities due to potential contamination from wastewater overflows caused by the rain. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has predicted even more storms, warning of possible rainfall amounts of up to 100 millimeters over the coming days.
When considering the coastal areas, the storms have thrown marine activities off-balance as well. A rescue operation took place near Tweed Heads on Thursday afternoon after multiple yachts were ripped from their moorings. Point Danger Marine Rescue Commander John Murray recounted the chaos, stating, "We just know the 14-year-old is on board, he's drifting, he can't steer or operate it." Fortunately, rescue teams were able to assist the teenager safely to shore whilst dealing with other distressed vessels adrift.
Adding to the somber news, a man reported to be in his 80s lost his life when a tree fell on his vehicle during the storm period, with injuries reported across different areas including Wagga Wagga. The SES had received nearly 3,000 calls on Thursday alone, indicating the severity of the situation statewide.
Making matters worse, residents across the affected areas witnessed unprecedented hail storms, with reports of giant hailstones impacting towns such as Tucabia and South Grafton. Resident Ryan Raymond described the scene, saying, "We had this almighty crash on our back verandah tin roof, and I thought we got struck by lightning, but then the heavens just opened up, and golf-ball and cricket-ball sized hail just started falling. It looked like it had been snowing in our backyard." A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the north coast as the adverse conditions lingered.
Bureau of Meteorology Senior Meteorologist Christie Johnson confirmed the storms might not dissipate anytime soon, explaining, "The cold front has moved offshore, but the tail end of the trough is still over the northeast of NSW. We're closely monitoring for potential severe storms as low-pressure systems may develop, which will intensify rainfall for regions like Hunter and mid-north coast." With rainfall totals expected to reach up to 150 millimeters or more, the threat remains high.
Local businesses are feeling the strain as well. Jo Thomas, chief executive of Destination Port Stephens, cautioned locals and visitors alike, stating, "Unless you have a generator, which most small businesses don't, it'll have a big impact. The message from us is for everyone to not come out, stay safe, stay indoors, just be patient until the power is restored." With severe weather patterns expected to continue impacting the state, this serves as both a warning and wake-up call for those unprepared for the violent nature of these storms.
While rescue operations continue, and damages are assessed, local lives remain deeply affected as communities grapple with the severity of this storm's impact. With emergency services and power providers working around the clock to restore normalcy, it’s clear the storm has made its mark across Northern New South Wales, with long-term recovery efforts now looming on the horizon.