Crowds of more than one million are expected around the city’s harbour tonight with the $5.78 million (£3.2 million) show including more than 100,000 individual pyrotechnics, 8.5 tonnes of fireworks and 35,000 shooting comets. Some revellers have been holding onto their Sydney harbour vantage points for three days in the lead up to tonight. But tonight’s weather forecast threatens to dampen the celebrations as the crowds are drenched by a huge downpour, accompanied by thunder and lightning.
The storms quickly brought 8mm of rain and dozens of lightening strikes, forcing the cancellation of the 8pm aerial flyover display.
Some revellers are disappointed by the weather, claiming that New Years Eve is “cancelled”.
One person wrote on Twitter: “When you sit for hours to get a prime spot and then… the heavens open and everyone leaves. Can’t even see the bridge anymore #Sydney #NYEcancelled #storm #NYE2018
Another wrote: “Glad I’ve travelled 10,000 miles to be in a thunderstorm by the Sydney Harbour Bridge #NewYearsEve #soggy #squelching.”
But not everyone is phased by the storm, with one person tweeting: “Raining but still unphased #human #tent #SydNYE #NewYearsEve #Sydney”
Another wrote: “New Years Eve in Sydney is one we won’t forget – we came for the fireworks and got a bonus summer storm #Sydney NYE.”
Earlier on Monday temperatures in Sydney climbed to 30C.
An Irish tourist told 9News: “I’ve been waiting here almost 24 hours – I came here at lunchtime yesterday.
“But yeah, I have a great team.
“It’s going to be an amazing New Years, once in a life time.”
Another tourist, who has been running a time-lapse of the Harbour Bridge since he arrived, said: “I waited since yesterday 8pm. But others have waited three days.
“It’s not so bad, there’s a lot of us so we talk and make friends.”
The city’s lord mayor, Clover Moore, criticised the government over the increased commercialisation of New Year’s Eve around the harbour earlier today.
He called the increase in ticketed events “outrageous”.
Of the 51 official harbourside events on the City of Sydney’s website, 19 are ticketed, with prices as high as $335 (£186).
Ms Moore said: “I frankly think that is outrageous that they are trying to make money out of something that we are putting on to bring the community together harmoniously and to celebrate the beauty of our city and our creators.”