Millions of Australians on the east coast should brace for a “vigorous” weather system forecast to bring heavy rain, damaging surf and strong wind from this morning.
The coast of NSW from Coffs Harbour, through Sydney and all the way to Bega in the south is expected to be hit with a fast-moving coastal low and the Bureau of Meteorology warned it may also hammer the Sydney metropolitan area.
The Hunter and Mid North Coast, including Newcastle, were warned to expect damaging wind gusts of up to 120km/h from dawn today, followed by heavy rainfall likely leading to flash flooding in a system expected to make its way gradually south along the coast.
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“This is a very dynamic and fast-moving system, very different to the systems that we have seen in recent times,” NSW SES Deputy Commissioner Debbie Platz warned yesterday.
The most intense weather was expected to smash various parts of the the coast by this afternoon and into tomorrow morning.
About 50 to 120 millimetres of rainfall could drench the east, south and mid-north coast of NSW and some isolated showers could reach up to 200 millimetres.
“It’ll bring widespread impacts. The position and the strength of the low will determine the duration and the severity of the impacts, which may persist into Thursday,” the Bureau of Meteorology’s Steve Bernasconi said.
He said it had become a “vigorous coastal low” and is complex and dynamic, meaning it is difficult to forecast just how severe the weather will be.
At 11pm yesterday, the bureau’s updated severe weather warning forecasted possible six-hourly rainfall totals from 70 to 90 millimetres, with isolated totals up to 120 millimetres.
The NSW SES urged impacted residents to prepare for cyclonic conditions.
“We are prepared here, at SES,” Platz said.
“But what we need is for you to be prepared. You out there in the community need to start preparing for this weather event.”
Platz warned people to clean gutters, to move or tie down loose items like outdoor furniture and trampolines and to move cars away from large trees.
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Assistant Commissioner Nicole Hogan said flash flooding and storm damage were the key risks.
“Communities along the coast should start preparing now by securing loose items around their home and learning about their flood risk before the worst impacts occur,” she said.
“While we are expecting minor riverine flooding, we know significant flash flooding is a risk and can occur quickly and without much warning, so we want communities to know their risk, and understand the dangers of driving through floodwaters.
“If you do come across a flooded road, you should stop, turn around and find an alternative route.”
The Bureau of Meteorology issued hazardous wind and surf warnings for the NSW coast.
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An initial flood watch warning was in place for the Hawkesbury-Nepean, Georges, Cooks, Sydney Coast, and Illawarra Coast catchments.
The developing system has been dubbed a potential “bomb cyclone” – a rapidly forming system that goes from non-existence to threatening in just days.
It could also be the first east coast low to hit Sydney since 2022.
Stay up to date with warnings and conditions at the BoM and SES websites.
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