Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Sydney: Intense Rainfall and Life-Threatening Flash Flooding Expected
This alert is no longer in effect.
BOM issued it on April 6, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).
Areazine synthesizes this BoM weather warning directly from BOM's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a high-priority warning for parts of Sydney as slow-moving thunderstorms bring intense rainfall and the risk of life-threatening flash flooding.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Severe Thunderstorm Warning
- Affected area
- Sydney, New South Wales
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- BOM
Storm notices can cover different combinations of wind, hail, lightning, and rainfall. Use the original notice for the hazards and boundaries attached to this specific record.
Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in Sydney, New South Wales.
Alert Details
The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a Detailed Severe Thunderstorm Warning (IDN21035) for intense rainfall. This is a top-priority alert for people in parts of the Sydney area, issued at 6:57 pm on Thursday, 26 February 2026.
Affected Areas
The warning specifically identifies a very dangerous, slow-moving thunderstorm detected near Liverpool and Sydney Olympic Park. The storm is forecast to affect the following locations:
- Parramatta, Ryde, and Drummoyne by 7:25 pm
- Blacktown, Erskine Park, and Baulkham Hills by 7:55 pm
A broader Severe Weather Warning for heavy rainfall also remains current for the majority of the Sydney Metropolitan area, as well as adjacent parts of the Illawarra and Blue Mountains.
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 if you require rescue.
- Stay indoors and away from windows; ensure children and pets remain indoors as well.
- For emergency assistance in floods and storms, contact the SES at 132 500.
Expected Conditions
Slow-moving thunderstorms have developed, producing intense rainfall. The Bureau warns that these conditions are likely to lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding in the impacted zones.
Timeline
The alert was issued at 6:57 pm on Thursday, 26 February 2026. The current warning has an expiry time of 9:57 pm, with the next update scheduled to be issued by 8:00 pm. Residents are encouraged to monitor the Hazards Near Me NSW app for further updates.
Original source: BOM Official Notice ↗
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