Sat Jan 18 01:07:42 UTC 2025: ## Thousands Without Power in Australia After Severe Storms
**Sydney, Australia –** Tens of thousands of residents in New South Wales, Australia, are without power following a severe storm system that brought damaging winds, heavy rain, and flooding. Ausgrid, the power company, reported approximately 28,000 outages in Sydney and 15,000 in Newcastle and the Hunter region on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
The state’s emergency services responded to over 2,825 calls for assistance since Friday, primarily related to fallen trees and wind damage. Federal Emergency Management Minister Jenny McAllister urged residents in affected areas to heed emergency warnings and follow official advice, announcing disaster support funding.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued ongoing warnings for flooding, damaging winds, and heavy rain across much of New South Wales, with wind gusts up to 100 km/h expected in alpine regions. This latest storm follows similar severe weather earlier in the week that left 200,000 people without power. The increased intensity of short-term rainfall events is linked to climate change, according to Australia’s science agency, which also warns of escalating risks such as extreme heat, coastal flooding, drought, and bushfires.
First Piper 