Latest news with #WarragambaDam
The Guardian
02-07-2025
- Climate
- The Guardian
Australia news live: NSW storm will ease this morning, BoM says; Qantas customers told to be on alert after hack
Update: Date: 2025-07-02T20:49:50.000Z Title: Sydney's Warragamba Dam set to spill after heavy rain Content: Water flowing out of Australia's largest urban water supply will add to the risk of flooding after a damaging and complex low pressure system caused widespread havoc, Australian Associated Press reports. Warragamba Dam west of Sydney was expected to begin a 'moderate spill' into this morning after days of heavy rain, WaterNSW said. Following recent rainfall, Warragamba Dam is close to full capacity and a moderate spill is anticipated later tonight. Check for weather and flood warnings. For emergency information, contact the NSW SES - 132 500 State regulations do not allow water to be released at the dam before predicted rainfall or to mitigate floods as it supplies 80% of Sydney's drinking water. Spills at the dam are not uncommon, previously occurring in May, and three times in 2024. Warragamba Dam flows into the Hawkesbury-Nepean river catchment, where the bureau has warned flooding could occur today. Other, smaller dams were also spilling after reaching capacity following heavy rains. Read more here: Update: Date: 2025-07-02T20:47:39.000Z Title: NSW low-pressure system will ease this morning, says BoM Content: The Bureau of Meteorology said this morning that a series of low pressure systems that has battered New South Wales remain in the Tasman Sea. But a secondary low that was moving northwards and brought more wild weather has begun to weaken. Winds are expected to ease today around higher ground in the north of the state later during the morning, the BoM said. There would be strong to damaging west to south-westerly winds averaging 55 to 65 kmh, the 4am update said, with peak gusts of around 100 kmh likely around parts of the Northern Tablelands, the mid-north coast hinterland and the Border Ranges. But the wind is expected to ease later this morning. Severe weather 'is no longer occurring in the Hunter, Metropolitan, Illawarra and South Coast districts', the BoM said, and the warning for these districts was cancelled. However, there would damaging surf conditions on the coast between Seal Rocks in the north to the Victorian border with the threat of 'coastal erosion and localised damage to coastal infrastructure'. Update: Date: 2025-07-02T20:47:19.000Z Title: Qantas customers told to stay on high alert Content: Qantas customers have been told to be on high alert for scams after one of the worst cyber attacks in months, Australian Associated Press reports. Qantas yesterday revealed a cyber incident on a third-party platform used by the airline's contact centre that exposed the details of six million customers. Names, phone numbers, dates of birth and email addresses are among the data believed to be exposed in the leak. But Qantas reassured customers financial information, passport numbers, credit card details and frequent flyer PIN codes were not accessed. Customers are urged to stay on high alert in coming months because they may experience targeted phishing scams. The type of personal information could be used in further cyber attacks, a security expert says. 'I think even with reassurances, the breach of names, email addresses, phone numbers and perhaps most importantly, birth dates and frequent flyer numbers, it's still significant,' the executive director of Macquarie University's cyber security hub, Prof Dali Kaafar, said. Kaafar said the details could lead to malicious actors building a more complete profile about individuals to make them more susceptible to other forms of cybercrime. Qantas launched an investigation into the attack on Wednesday as customers reeled from the news. There has been no confirmation of the group responsible. Qantas shares on the ASX shed about 3.6% to $10.38 on Wednesday in response to the news. Update: Date: 2025-07-02T20:46:53.000Z Title: Welcome Content: Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I'm Martin Farrer bringing you the early headlines and breaking news and then it'll be Rafqa Touma in the chair. There is relief in sight for wind and rain-battered New South Wales after the Bureau of Meteorology said this morning that the low pressure system that has caused havoc for the state has begun to weaken. However, it looks like there will still be high winds and damaging surf conditions today. More coming up. Qantas customers have been told to be on high alert for scams after another cyber attacks hit the company this week and exposed the details of six million customers. More coming up.
The Guardian
02-07-2025
- Climate
- The Guardian
NSW wild weather: dam spill heightens flood threat as storm wreaks havoc
Water flowing out of Australia's largest urban water supply will add to the risk of flooding after a damaging and complex low-pressure system caused widespread havoc. Warragamba Dam, west of Sydney, was expected to begin a 'moderate spill' overnight into Thursday after days of heavy rain, WaterNSW said. 'The duration and volume of the spill will ultimately be determined by rainfall received across the catchment,' it said. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Thousands of people are without power, trees have been uprooted and beaches eroded after the wild weather system battered large parts of Australia's east coast. State regulations do not allow water to be released at Warragamba Dam before predicted rainfall or to mitigate floods as it supplies 80% of Sydney's drinking water. Spills at the dam are not uncommon, previously occurring in May, and three times in 2024. Warragamba Dam flows into the Hawkesbury-Nepean river catchment, where the bureau has warned flooding could occur on Thursday. Other, smaller dams were also spilling after reaching capacity after heavy rains. The downpours formed part of a 'vigorous' east coast low the Bureau of Meteorology predicted would move into the Tasman Sea. Lord Howe Island residents were warned to prepare for increased winds and elevated seas, with waves up above five metres. Damaging winds with gusts up to 100km/h were expected to continue through the morning around parts of northern NSW. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion More than 3,400 incidents were reported to the SES during the weather event, beginning on Monday, with 10 flood rescues. Additional crews from the ACT were joining the response and recovery efforts late on Wednesday. About 8,000 Endeavour Energy customers were without electricity as crews worked to restore power on Wednesday night, down from a peak of 30,000. Dozens of properties were under evacuation warnings due to flooding at Burrill Lake and Sanctuary Point near Jervis Bay. In nearby Sussex Inlet, Fay Brown was stranded when roads approaching the Badgee Bridge flooded. Without a four-wheel drive, Brown would have used a flood access road, but the local council continued a longstanding practice of blocking the road rather than allowing residential access. 'This happens every time we have heavy days of rain. I've lived here 11 years and been stuck on at least five occasions,' she said. 'Once we were stuck there for four days.'
The Independent
02-07-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
‘Bomb cyclone' causes flooding, power outages in Australia's east
A powerful coastal storm has caused widespread disruption across eastern Australia, leading to significant flooding, power outages, and transport chaos in NSW. The 'bomb cyclone', described as a vigorous coastal low by the Bureau of Meteorology, intensified with over 150mm of rain and winds up to 125kmph, with warnings for damaging winds and dangerous surf continuing. Key concerns include rising rivers, advice-level flood warnings for areas like Camden and Penrith, and the Warragamba Dam nearing capacity, threatening downstream flooding. Around 30,000 homes and businesses experienced power outages, with nearly 9,000 still without electricity, while Sydney Airport saw 140 flight cancellations and major disruptions to rail and ferry services. Emergency services have responded to nearly 3,400 incidents, including flood rescues, as experts note the increasing frequency of such severe weather events, linked to unusually warm ocean waters.
News.com.au
24-05-2025
- Climate
- News.com.au
NSW Floods: Major clean up continues after record floods
Communities torn apart by relentless flooding on the Mid North Coast have finally been given a reprieve from the deluge of rain with clear weather and sunny skies. But the real challenge has just begun, with large volumes of water still flowing through catchments and putting communities at risk and the bulk of the clean-up effort from the devastation still to come. It comes as Sydney faces a new challenge, with Warragamba Dam reaching capacity as of 5pm on Saturday, with it expected to spill. Follow live updates here. Originally published as NSW Floods: Major clean up continues after record floods
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Fears as major dam nears capacity
Sydneysiders are being warned to remain alert as Warragamba Dam nears capacity, after earlier fears the dam would spill following relentless rains. The capital is expected to cop an estimated 90mm of rainfall through Friday, as the system that has caused devastating - and deadly - flooding across NSW Mid North Coast and Hunter regions moves further south. More than 118mm of rain was recorded at Sydney Olympic Park in the 24 hours up to 9am on Friday, with 108mm at Belrose and 104mm in Parramatta. Warragamba Dam - which is Australia's largest concrete dam and services much of Sydney - had reached 97 per cent as of late Friday morning, with the catchment recording 55mm of rain in the 24 hours up to 9am Friday and 76.3mm in the past week. WaterNSW had warned on Thursday - while the dam was at 96 per cent - that it was at risk of overflowing and spilling by Friday afternoon or early Saturday morning. 'The exact timing and volume of a spill will depend on catchment rainfall and the resulting inflow into the dam,' a statement read. 'Under the more likely forecast scenario, the dam would begin to spill later Friday or into Saturday morning.' NSW Premier Chris Minns told ABC Radio Sydney on Friday morning that no evacuation alerts had been issued in the Hawkesbury region, though conditions could still change. 'The truth is 40 per cent of floodwaters don't come over the top of Warragamba Dam, they come through the Colo, South Creek, Nepean and other river systems on the north of that river end,' he said. The most recent update from WaterNSW, released later on Friday morning, said there was now less chance the dam would spill over. 'A spill at Warragamba Dam is now less likely after overnight rain over the catchment came in below the highest forecasts,' the statement read. 'WaterNSW will continue to monitor dam inflows and rainfall throughout the day and will keep the community updated on any expected impacts on Warragamba Dam.' The dam was predicted to overflow after NSW residents were hit with a three-day barrage of rains in June last year. The rains are not quite over yet for those in Sydney and NSW, with the Bureau of Meteorology's Dean Narramore saying on Friday morning that severe warnings had been issued for regions from the Illawarra to the Snowy Mountains. Some areas were tipped to receive six-hourly totals of up to 100mm. The SES has warned of heavy rainfall extending further south to the Southern Tablelands and inland South Coast, which will affect Bowral, Braidwood, Bega, Katoomba, Goulburn, Nerriga and Captains Flat for the rest of Friday.
