AUSTRALIA’S emergency services ordered 200,000 people to flee from the path of a wild storm that lurched towards Sydney today, after killing 13 people in more than a week of record-setting floods along the east coast.

Authorities issued severe rain and wind warnings for a 400km stretch of coast as water levels rapidly rose – including in suburbs around Sydney, the largest city in the country and home to five million people.

The unpredictable storm front has crawled southwards along the east coast from Queensland to New South Wales, creating havoc as rivers and reservoirs broke their banks with water swamping homes up to their roofs.

“Many people are waking up today to see much of our state underwater,” said New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet.

“If you are subject to one of those evacuation orders, please get out. Things will get worse before they get better.”

Authorities have ordered 200,000 people to evacuate their homes, and warned another 300,000 may soon have to join them.

The Warragamba Dam in south-western Sydney, which supplies 80% of the water in the city, has been spilling over since the early hours of yesterday, accelerating the flooding in some areas.

‘Devastating scenes’

New South Wales meteorologist Dean Narramore predicted that the storm will dump 50mm-150mm of rain during the day in areas, including in and around Sydney, possibly more in areas struck by thunderstorms.

“That can lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding.”

Weatherzone meteorologist Ben Domensino said the storm is being fuelled by an “atmospheric river” – a long stream of airborne moisture.

Scientists said climate change is making bushfires, cyclones, droughts and bushfires more frequent and more intense in Australia.

“Australia is at the forefront of severe climate change,” said environmental expert Hilary Bambrick of the Queensland University of Technology.

“Temperatures are rising faster here than the global average, and higher temperatures mean the atmosphere holds more moisture, meaning rainfall events are becoming more extreme.”

In New South Wales, emergency services chief Carlene York said the storm is “difficult to predict” as she warned of a tough day across Sydney and other parts of the state. – AFP, March 3, 2022.