A number of popular Vivid attractions were cancelled on Saturday night after Sydney was pummelled by heavy rain for several hours.
The event’s organisers at about 5pm issued a notice to anyone thinking of attending events in Tumbalong Park, on the Goods Line and in the Royal Botanic Gardens.
“Due to severe weather, tonight’s Vivid Light Walk, Tumbalong Nights at Tumbalong Park, the Vivid Fire Kitchen … and the Lightscape experience at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney is cancelled,” the update said.
“Other Vivid activities including Music, Food and Ideas events will continue as planned.
“Public safety is always #vividsydney’s top priority. We encourage everyone to keep following our social media updates to keep track of future program changes.”
Parts of the harbour city received over 100 millimetres of rain on Saturday, with the downpour starting around 9am and not letting up until later in the evening.
Rose Bay recorded a whopping 171 millimetres between 9am on Saturday and 7am the next morning, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Further north, Mona Vale received 126 millimetres over roughly the same time period, with Wahroonga, Avalon and Forestville copping similar amounts.
Cronulla also recorded large totals, with around 129 millimetres of rain dumped on the southern suburb.
The rain caused traffic chaos in the CBD, with cars wanting to travel onto the Sydney Harbour Bridge from the north after 1pm forced into one lane to avoid what appeared to be an overflowing drain.
Elsewhere, westbound traffic on the Anzac Bridge was briefly clogged up due to a deep puddle of water gathering on the A4 at Pyrmont.
Another normally bustling road in the Northern Beaches remains closed on Sunday morning due to flooding.
Parts of the Wakehurst Parkway between the Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation and Oxford Falls Road are underwater.
Emergency services are attending, and motorists are being advised to avoid the area and use either Pittwater Road or Warringah Road instead.
Flood warnings remain current in other parts of the state including for Wollombi Brook in the Hunter region.
Minor flooding could also occur along the Williams River at Dungog on Sunday morning.
While conditions are easing across the state, a hazardous surf warning is in place for the Sydney, Illawarra, Batemans Bay and Eden coasts.
“Surf and swell conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, boating, and swimming. On Monday, this is particularly noted for south-facing coastlines,” the Bureau said.