Sydney Airport was operating as normal with no flights cancelled, but travellers were told to expect delays and check with their airlines.
The airport received 26mm of rain in just one hour. Light rail services have been cancelled between Dulwich Hill and Central due to flooding. Motorists travelling across the Anzac Bridge were also experiencing major delays due to soaked roads.
Only one westbound lane was open approaching Victoria Road and City West Link. Flooding also affected a number of other roads in the western suburbs, including parts of Parramatta Road and James Ruse Drive.
The southwestern suburb of Canterbury received 30mm of rain in 30 minutes.
The SES has responded to 11 flood rescues in the city, mainly in the inner suburbs of Alexandria and Zetland. Two rescues had been completed, a spokeswoman said.
Light rail commuter Andrea Plawutsky had been travelling towards Central Station when her journey came to an abrupt halt.
She and fellow passengers were stuck in the carriage for five minutes at Chinatown before being told they had to get out because the driver could not go any further.
Rubbish bins were floating down the street outside, Plawutsky said. She ended up running through the rain barefoot. "The water was halfway up my shins when I got off," Plawutsky told AAP.
- AAP