Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Heavy Rainfall in Wollondilly, Wingecarribee, and Greater Wollongong

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a “Top Priority” Severe Thunderstorm Warning for heavy rainfall. The alert, identified as IDN21035, was issued at 4:11 pm on Wednesday, 4 March 2026, for residents in parts of the Wollondilly/Wingecarribee and Greater Wollongong areas.

Affected Areas

The warning covers specific geographic regions where severe thunderstorms were detected at 4:10 pm near Bowral and Oakdale. These slow-moving storms are forecast to impact the following locations:

• By 4:40 pm: Robertson, Colo Vale, and the area immediately east of Bowral.
• By 5:10 pm: Lake Burragorang, the Burragorang State Recreation Area, and Lake Avon.

What You Should Do

The State Emergency Service (SES) advises residents to take immediate safety precautions:

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

Expected Conditions

The primary hazard is heavy rainfall produced by slow-moving thunderstorms. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, these conditions are likely to lead to flash flooding in the affected areas.

Timeline

The alert was issued at 4:11 pm on March 4, 2026. The Bureau of Meteorology expects to issue the next update by 5:15 pm. Residents should continue to monitor the Hazards Near Me NSW app or the BOM website for further developments, as a more general severe thunderstorm warning is also current for broader districts including the Illawarra, South Coast, and Tablelands.