Northern NSW Reels from Wild Storms: Thousands Left in Darkness

This morning, northern New South Wales was battered by wild storms that left over 25,000 households and businesses without power, while major roads were rendered impassable by fallen trees and debris. The powerful electrical storm struck unexpectedly before dawn, catching the State Emergency Service off guard in the Grafton area.

As the storm moved northward throughout the morning, it wreaked havoc in popular towns such as Byron Bay, Cabarita, and Tweed Heads, sparking a flurry of emergency calls. Superintendent Scott McLennan reported that more than 140 calls for assistance had poured in from homeowners in distress, a number that continues to climb as the day progresses and the winds shift further offshore.

Transport for NSW reported significant disruptions, with numerous trees and power lines down along the motorway between Brunswick Heads and Chinderah. The chaotic conditions made travel treacherous, as Brunswick Heads resident Iain Fogarty experienced firsthand. While en route to Gold Coast Airport, Fogarty encountered horizontal rain and near-zero visibility, forcing him to pull over three times as he struggled to navigate the storm’s fury.

Essential Energy crews are actively working to restore power across the affected regions. The storm initially struck the Lismore, Kyogle, and Casino areas, leaving approximately 4,000 customers without electricity. By 9:30 AM, an additional 22,000 households and businesses in Byron Bay, Tweed Heads, Murwillumbah, Ballina, and surrounding areas were also cut off from power supplies.

In Tweed Heads, the storm’s ferocity led to a car being crushed outside a daycare center on Kennedy Drive around 10 AM. Fortunately, the driver—a man seated in the vehicle—sustained only minor cuts, with no serious injuries reported.

Meanwhile, Koonorigan resident Leigh McInnes expressed her astonishment at the storm’s intensity. Living north of Lismore, she said she had never experienced winds like those that battered her home this morning.

As the storm continues to impact the region, residents are urged to remain vigilant and heed warnings from emergency services, while crews work tirelessly to restore normalcy to the beleaguered communities of northern New South Wales.