Torrential rain, 100kmh winds and well below average temperatures: Wild weather smashes large parts of Australia’s east and there’s a big chill on the way – here’s what to expect in your home town
- Temperature in NSW hasn’t passed 15 degrees, rain forecast for the next week
- Dangerous winds of up to 100kmh have been recorded in some parts of NSW
- Weather experts from BOM have advised people to stay away from beaches
- Parts of Western Australia can expect freezing temperatures over next 48 hours
- Cold front in WA is due to engulf the nation’s eastern states late next week
Wild weather is currently battering New South Wales while a cold front is bearing down on Western Australia that will see temperatures plummet up to eight degrees below average.
The NSW coast has a warning in place for damaging winds and hazardous surf, with winds already exceeding 100kmh in some parts.
A Tasman low has caused the intense weather, with the strongest gust of wind recorded at 106kmh at Wattamolla, in Sydney’s south, just before 11am.
A building was also evacuated on Sydney’s lower north shore at Waverton when the top section of an apartment collapsed.
The wild weather (pictured) has seen winds of up to 100kmh recorded in NSW
Weather experts have advised people across NSW to avoid the ocean and beaches due to the wild conditions
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning in NSW due to damaging winds and dangerous surf
Earlier on Saturday, ferry services from Manly on Sydney’s northern beaches were cancelled due to dangerous conditions.
Authorities have called for people in NSW to stay away from the ocean and beaches, as dangerous winds and surf continue to wreak havoc on the coast.
Reports from the Bureau of Meteorology indicate ocean swells of up to six metres.
‘If you’re anywhere near the beach or water rock fishing, swimming, it’s dangerous and hazardous, so just stay away,’ said Dean Narramore, a senior meteorologist with the Bureau.
The warning extends from the Victoria-NSW border up to Newcastle, north of Sydney.
On Saturday morning, winds in NSW reached 80kmh at Sydney Airport, 87kmh at Wollongong on the NSW south coast and 98kmh at Mount Montague and Point Perpendicular.
While conditions are set to ease in NSW after the weekend, a bitterly cold front that’s currently about to take hold in Western Australia should hit the eastern states late next week.
‘A strong front will bring in much colder air from Sunday night into Monday with temperatures from 5 to 8 below average,’ Mr Narramore said.
Initially the front will cover the south-west of WA from Geraldton to Esperance.
Footy fans braving the cold during the round 15 NRL match between the Knights and the NZ Warriors in Newcastle, north of Sydney, on Saturday afternoon
This address at Waverton, on Sydney’s lower north shore, was evacuated after the top section of the building collapsed
The Ignite Kiama winter festival on the NSW south coast was cancelled due to the wild weather conditions
Strong winds, widespread rain and thunderstorms will come with the front which will extend across the whole of WA, then gradually move eastward through the middle of the week.
The front is due to hit eastern Australia on Thursday, bringing a return to heavy rain and high winds.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, conditions for most of Queensland and Victoria were likely to be cloudy and cool but otherwise stable heading into next week.