Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Sydney and Wollondilly/Wingecarribee: Heavy Rain and Large Hail Expected

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a detailed Severe Thunderstorm Warning (IDN21035) for parts of the Sydney and Wollondilly/Wingecarribee areas. The warning was issued at 2:41 pm on Saturday, 21 February 2026, and is classified as a top priority for immediate broadcast.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically covers localized severe thunderstorms south of Sydney. At 2:35 pm, a storm was detected near Douglas Park, Wilton, and the area south of Wilton. The storm is moving toward the north and is forecast to affect the following locations:

• Appin: by 2:50 pm
• Camden, Campbelltown, and Oran Park: by 3:05 pm

What You Should Do

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

• Park vehicles under secure cover and away from trees, powerlines, and drains.
• Secure or put away loose items around houses, yards, and balconies.
• Maintain a distance of at least 8 meters from fallen power lines or energized objects.
• Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.
• Do not walk, ride, or drive through floodwater.
• If trapped by flash flooding, seek refuge in the highest available place and call 000 for rescue.
• Stay indoors away from windows; keep children and pets inside.

Expected Conditions

The severe thunderstorm is likely to produce the following hazards:

• Heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding.
• Large hailstones.
• Damaging winds.

Timeline

The storm was first detected at 2:35 pm on Saturday. The current warning is effective through 5:41 pm, with the next detailed update scheduled for approximately 3:15 pm. A broader general severe thunderstorm warning remains in effect for parts of the Mid North Coast, Hunter, Metropolitan, Illawarra, Central Tablelands, and Northern Tablelands districts.