If there's one thing Sydney has... | Friday, December 29, 2006 |
It's weather.
Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
New South Wales
TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING - SYDNEY/NEWCASTLE/WOLLONGONG REGION
for LARGE HAILSTONES, DAMAGING WIND, VERY HEAVY RAINFALL and FLASH FLOODING
For people in parts of the
Sydney Metropolitan,
Blue Mountains/Hawkesbury and
Wollondilly/Wingecarribee areas.
Issued at 2:40 PM Friday, 29 December 2006.
At 2:40 PM , Bureau of Meteorology weather radar detected severe thunderstorms near Katoomba and the Lithgow district. These thunderstorms are moving towards the east. Severe thunderstorms are forecast to affect Lake Burragorang, the Blue Mountains south of Hazelbrook and the Burragorang State Recreation Area by 3:10 PM and Warragamba, Penrith and Cobbity by 3:40 PM .
Large hailstones, damaging winds, very heavy rainfall and flash flooding are possible.
A more general severe thunderstorm warning is also current for the Illawarra, Hunter, Central Tablelands, Metropolitan, Southern Tablelands, the ACT and parts of the Mid North Coast and South West Slopes Forecast Districts.
The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
* Move your car under cover or away from trees.
* Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.
* Keep clear of fallen power lines.
* Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.
* Don't walk, ride your bike or drive through flood water.
* Unplug computers and appliances.
* Avoid using the phone during the storm.
* Stay indoors away from windows, and keep children and pets indoors as well.
* For emergency help in floods and storms, ring your local SES Unit on 13 2500.
The next warning is due to be issued by 3:35 PM.
This warning is also available through TV and Radio broadcasts, the Bureau's website at www.bom.gov.au or call 1300 659 218. The Bureau and State Emergency Service would appreciate this warning being broadcast regularly.
