‘Never seen anything like this’: Cars stuck in flash flooding on major Sydney thoroughfare as widespread rain, storms to lash east coast

Wild footage has captured the moment cars became stuck on a major road during flash flooding in Sydney’s south – as the east coast braces for “very active” storms to lash the entire east coast of Australia.

Taren Point Rd, one of the major thoroughfares leading into the Sutherland Shire, was inundated with water due to heavy rain on Friday night.

In the footage, multiple cars are seen becoming stuck or stranded along the flooded road as one couple attempts to navigate the chaotic traffic.

“I have never seen anything like this,” a man can be heard saying in the video.

The footage emerges after severe storms wreaked havoc across NSW, with Australians now being warned to “remain vigilant” for flash flooding.

The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) have responded to more than 420 incidents since the storms first began on Thursday, with trees brought down, roofs damaged and fences uprooted in Appin and Douglas Park in Sydney’s southwest.

Conditions were so bad local resident Mary Graham said “it was like the cyclones you see in movies”.

“It’s one of the scariest things you’ve ever seen,” Mrs Graham said.

“There were branches coming down and smashing into different parts of the roof and I had no idea where in the house we should be.”

NSW SES state duty commander acting assistant commissioner Paul McQueen on Friday urged residents to “make safe decisions on the road” amid the potential for flash flooding.

“I’m urging residents to monitor the conditions as we see these storms continue into the weekend, Mr McQueen said.

“There is the potential for flash flooding so please ensure you make safe decisions on the road and do not enter any flooded causeways or roads.

“Please do not drive, play or ride through flood waters.

“Stop, turn around and find an alternative route. If you find yourself trapped on a flooded road call triple-0 immediately.”

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said widespread rain, heavy falls and severe thunderstorms will make Saturday a “very active day”.

Weatherzone’s Anthony Sharwood earlier said a “broad low pressure trough” over eastern Australia could bring high rainfalls.

“With plenty of warm air still lingering in eastern Australia (even after the hottest air dissipated after western Sydney reached 39.9°C on Wednesday), all the ingredients are in place for a widespread multi-day outbreak of rainfall and thunderstorms,” Mr Sharwood said.

Central, eastern and northern Queensland is set to be hit with heavy rainfall and damaging winds with the potential for severe thunderstorms, with some areas of the state’s southeast also set to be affected.

Brisbane is expected to hit a high of 27C across the weekend while NSW is set to be lashed by thunderstorms.

“(It is) a very active day across NSW,” Mr Narramore said.

“Widespread rain, thunderstorms, severe thunderstorms likely in some locations, with heavy falls and damaging winds.

“We also have flood watches out for large parts of the state as well.”

Sydney is set to hit a high of 29C across the weekend, with Melbourne to be a bit cooler at 23C.

Victoria is also tipped for “widespread severe thunderstorms” across the state’s west and north.

“Very humid day on the way, lots of rain as well for many areas, and temperatures in the low to mid 20s,” Mr Narramore said.

“But it will be humid, so it’ll feel warmer than that in Melbourne, looking at a wet top of 22 degrees.”

Northern and eastern Tasmanian is expected to experience rain later on Saturday with a top of 24C in Hobart across the weekend.

South Australia is expected to have a humid day with showers and storms with a high of 26C.

Perth could experience showers and storms across the north with cooler conditions on the west coast with a shore breeze, while Perth is set to reach a high of 30C.

“Then as we move across our tropical north, as you’d expect this time of year, widespread showers and thunderstorms from Cape York right across the top end and into the Kimberley,” Mr Narramore said.“Temperatures in the low to mid 30s, it’ll be hot, it’ll be humid, and if you are under one of those showers and storms, falls will be heavy, as we’d expect this time of year.”

Darwin is tipped for a shower or storm on Saturday with a top of 33C, while Canberra can expect a high of 25C with a chance of rain and thunderstorms.

The Bureau of Meteorology earlier warned Australians to brace for a “wet and stormy weekend” and the risk of flash flooding, with “no real break” from the wet weather expected anytime soon.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said a burst of moisture moving across the country’s east is set to increase the risk of heavy rainfall.

“Once again, cloudy skies, rain areas and embedded thunderstorms will be widespread, impacting Queensland, NSW, Victoria, southeast South Australia as well,” Ms Bradbury said.

“Severe storms may bring heavy falls and the risk of flash flooding to much of central and southern Queensland, inland NSW, and the ACT including Canberra, and northern Victoria, including the northern suburbs of Melbourne.”

While showers are set to continue for much of the country heading into next week, Aussies can expect more warm temperatures for the first week of summer.

Sydney is tipped to hit a high of 31C on Friday, while Melbourne should hit the same on Thursday.

Brisbane is expected to reach 30C by Tuesday while Adelaide is set to soar to 37C on Thursday.

Hobart is tipped to hit 26C on Wednesday while Canberra is expected to reach 34C on Friday.

Darwin is set to stay between 31C and 33C all week, while Perth is expected to drop to 22C on Monday, climbing to 27C on Friday.