Sydney New Year's Eve celebrations hit by huge storm, torrential rain

Thousands waiting for New Year’s Eve fireworks were drenched as a huge downpour swept Sydney harbour, accompanied by thunder and lightning

More than a million people waiting to watch the New Year’s Eve fireworks around Sydney harbour were battered by torrential rain as a thunderstorm swept the city hours before midnight.

On Monday morning the Bureau of Meteorology had predicted the “chance of a light shower/thunderstorm” in the evening, most likely in the west of the city. Otherwise, it said, “a warm, partly cloudy night” was expected. But by mid-afternoon thunderstorm warnings for inland areas had been extended to Sydney, the Hunter and the Illawarra, and the city was hit with a succession of huge downpours from about 5pm.

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from World news | The Guardian http://bit.ly/2EWIN7D