Cruel Summer Down Under: Taylor Swift's Sydney Concert Delayed Due to Lightning Strikes

A gray haze has delayed Taylor Swift's Eras Tour concert on Friday afternoon, local time (Feb. 23 morning UTC), after lightning strikes were reported near the venue.

Local media reported that Swifties gathering at Sydney's Olympic Park were asked to evacuate the stadium, as well as notified that the start time for Swift's first of four sold-out shows has been delayed.

"The floor and lower bowl are currently being evacuated due to lightning strikes nearby [sic] the stadium," Organizers of the Eras Tour posted on X, formerly Twitter. "Please stay safe, sheltered and follow venue screens until further notice."

Accor Stadium officials added that Friday's show would go ahead unless "severe weather which could impact the safety of artists and patrons" occurs.

The show has since commenced as of writing, with at least 81,000 people in attendance. Umbrellas were not permitted into the stadium, recommending attendees to wear rain ponchos instead.

The Show Goes On

Fans already inside the stadium at the time of the announcement told ABC that no one was allowed to enter the first 20 rows of seats.

Numerous bands of storms were visible on radar, sweeping across Sydney early in the evening, with further storms predicted later tonight.

Australian Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Dean Narramore told Nine News earlier this afternoon that the weather system was expected to bring heavy rain, lightning, thunder, and damaging winds.

In the meantime, fans exchanged friendship bracelets and jammed on the superstar's hits, including officers of the New South Wales Police patrolling the venue.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his fiancee, Jodi Haydon, were also in attendance.

The Australian leg of the Eras Tour began last week with a three-night show in Melbourne.

Tags

Australia, New South Wales, Sydney, Taylor Swift, Meteorology, Lightning, Weather, Storm