Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Heavy Rainfall in Southern New South Wales Districts

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for heavy rainfall. This top-priority alert was issued at 3:28 pm on Wednesday, 4 March 2026, for several districts in southern New South Wales. The warning is classified under IDN21033.

Affected Areas

The warning covers parts of the following forecast districts:

• Illawarra
• South Coast
• South West Slopes
• Riverina
• Snowy Mountains
• Central Tablelands
• Southern Tablelands

Specific locations that may be impacted include Wollongong, Bowral, Tumbarumba, Kiama, Nimmitabel, and Holbrook.

What You Should Do

The State Emergency Service (SES) advises residents in the warning area to take the following precautions:

• Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.
• Do not walk, ride your bike, or drive through flood water.
• If you are trapped by flash flooding, seek refuge in the highest available place and call 000 for rescue.
• Stay indoors and away from windows; keep children and pets inside.
• For emergency help in floods and storms, contact the SES at 132 500.

Expected Conditions

A trough situated over southern New South Wales is currently generating slow-moving thunderstorms. These storms are likely to produce localized heavy rainfall, which may lead to flash flooding within the warning area over the next several hours.

Timeline

The alert was issued at 3:28 pm on March 4, 2026, and is effective immediately. The situation is expected to persist for the next several hours. The Bureau of Meteorology expects to issue the next update by 6:30 pm.