A severe storm crossed the western suburbs of Sydney late in the afternoon of 16 February 2002 causing considerable damage. It moved in a north north-easterly direction at a speed of about 30 km per hour with very heavy rain and strong wind gusts. The strongest wind gust reported was 96 km per hour at Bankstown Airport. The SES received approximately 8000 requests for assistance.

The Insurance Council of Australia estimated the 2002 damage at $10 million, with the 2017 estimated normalised cost of $45 million