“If you don’t need to be on the roads during heavy rainfall, we ask the community to delay their travel until the storm passes,” Hogan said.
Concern was also raised for holidaymakers, who may encounter flooded roads while travelling across the state. Hogan stressed never to drive on inundated roads, saying the “best thing to do” was to turn around.
Friday will be a busy day for domestic travel at Sydney Airport, with more than 80,500 passengers expected. Sydney Airport chief executive Scott Charlton urged travellers to plan ahead and allow plenty of time for their journey, as roads and terminals fill.
How said rainfall was forecast to peak on Friday morning, though he noted it would remain “pretty wet and stormy” for the rest of the day. More thunderstorms are predicted for many parts of the state at the weekend, before moving north on Monday.