Brace for wild weather this storm season

Last published on 01 Oct 2019 

The NSW Government is urging communities to prepare for storm season including weather that can produce heavy rain, flash flooding and hailstones across the State.

Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott joined State Emergency Services (SES) volunteers to launch the start of the storm season and witness a simulation of an all-too-common SES rescue – a fallen tree on a crushed vehicle.

Mr Elliott said the best defence against storm season is a prepared community.

“As the weather heats up over summer, storms become more frequent. While parts of NSW have experienced extremely dry conditions and bushfires, we have also seen severe storms with damaging winds, hail and snow,” Mr Elliott said.

“NSW SES has responded to more than 5600 storm damage jobs in the last three months alone, and over 34,000 storm related jobs in the last year. Severe storms can hit at any time, so families need to know their risk and make a plan.”

The NSW Government has invested $56.4 million to provide the SES with 270 vehicles, 124 marine vessels and 95 storm trailers over four years to support communities in times of crisis.

NSW SES Acting Commissioner Kyle Stewart said while the official storm season runs from 1 October to 31 March each year, severe weather can strike at any time and communities should always be prepared.

“The Bureau of Metrology have forecast a typical thunderstorm season, and we will likely see storms that could include large hailstones, heavy rain, localised flash flooding and damaging winds,” said Mr Stewart.

More storm safety tips for prior to and during an emergency are available here.

Download Media Release: ​Brace for wild weather this storm season (PDF , 162.5 KB)