Sydney airport has been met with chaos as wild weather hits the NSW coast.
Travellers are being warned to take extra care on the roads while Sydney airport is thrown into chaos as the city prepares for a month worth of rain in two days.
A picture of Sydney Airport showed the extent of the chaos on Saturday morning, with eager travellers spilling out of the departures terminal into an undercover area outside.
“Sydney Airport is crazy this morning,” one woman wrote on Twitter.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned flooding is “essentially guaranteed” over the weekend as the 500km weather system moves towards the NSW coast.
Heavy rainfall has been forecast from Port Stephens in the north of the state all the way down the coast to Bateman’s Bay, with the weather event escalating until Tuesday.
Sydney and the Illawarra are set to be in the thick of the wild weather on Saturday.
“With catchments already saturated and dams at or near capacity, there is a heightened risk of riverine and flash flooding as well as landslips along central parts of the NSW coast from Saturday,” BOM said in a statement.
“River levels are expected to rise from Saturday, with the largest impacts starting Monday or Tuesday next week.
“Wind and waves will also increase along parts of the coast from Saturday, with a risk of coastal erosion for some areas.”
Meanwhile, Sydney Airport is set to welcome more than 2.1 million travellers in the next two weeks as school holidays officially begin in NSW.
Heavy traffic is also expected around the airport at known pinch points, especially the domestic terminal.
Travellers are being urged to arrive early to give themselves enough time to check baggage and get through security.
Transport for NSW has also issued a critical warning to anyone taking to the state’s roads, urging them to take care during severe weather and dangerous conditions.
Executive Director of Customer Coordination Roger Weeks is reminding motorists to drive to conditions, slow down and take extreme caution as widespread rainfall hits.
“With the Bureau of Meteorology warning of a month’s worth of rain over the weekend, the message to motorists is simple – reduce your speed, drive carefully and increase your visibility by switching on your headlights,” Mr Weeks said.
“Remember, your vehicle takes longer to stop when the roads are slippery, so break gently to slow down and increase the gap between you and the vehicle in front.”
Up to 300mm of rain is expected to fall over the weekend, which could easily flood a number of catchments across the state.
“We know floodwater is extremely dangerous, especially for drivers. If the road is flooded, turn around and find another way. People are advised to check road and river conditions before travelling,” Mr Weeks said.
Mr Weeks said roads in and out of Sydney are expected to see congestion, with families heading out of the city being told to expect delays due to traffic and weather conditions.
NSW Maritime Acting Executive Director Sian Nivison said large seas and damaging winds are expected develop in the coming days.
She is asking for people with boats to stay away from coastal waterways.
“We’re bracing for hazardous surf and swell conditions. Extreme caution should be taken in such conditions and, if they prevail, we would urge boaters to stay off coastal waterways,” Ms Nivison said.
