Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Heavy Rainfall Issued for Sydney and Wollondilly/Wingecarribee

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a Detailed Severe Thunderstorm Warning (IDN21035) for heavy rainfall. The alert is classified as a top priority for immediate broadcast and was issued at 1:31 pm Thursday, 19 March 2026.

Affected Areas

The warning applies to people in parts of the Sydney and Wollondilly/Wingecarribee areas. At 1:30 pm, severe thunderstorms were detected near Wedderburn and Regents Park. These storms are forecast to affect Auburn, Menangle, and Guildford by 2:00 pm.

Expected Conditions

The Bureau warns that these thunderstorms are slow-moving and are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding. Significant rainfall has already been observed, with 46 mm recorded at Bankstown Airport in the one-hour period leading up to 1:15 pm.

Timeline

The warning was issued at 1:31 pm on March 19, 2026. The next update from the Bureau of Meteorology is scheduled to be issued by 2:35 pm. A more general severe thunderstorm warning is also currently active for parts of the Metropolitan and Illawarra districts.

What You Should Do

The State Emergency Service (SES) advises residents in the affected areas 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 during floods and storms, contact the SES at 132 500.