Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology

 
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Severe weather continues for the NSW coast, low to gradually weaken today

22/04/2015

A severe weather warning remains in place today (Wednesday) for damaging winds, heavy rainfall, and dangerous surf conditions for the Sydney Metropolitan, Hunter and Central Coast, Wollongong and Illawarra regions.

The conditions are being caused by an intense low pressure system, often referred to as an East Coast Low, combined with a strengthening high pressure ridge over the southern Tasman Sea.

Early this morning the low pressure system was just offshore of Newcastle, and expected to move slowly south, staying close to the heavily populated coastal regions including Newcastle, the Central Coast, Sydney and Wollongong as the system gradually weakens.

Destructive and Damaging Winds
The strongest wind gusts were 135km/h recorded at Nobbys Head (Newcastle), Norah Head (Central Coast) and Wattamolla (Illawarra) on Tuesday. Peak winds today (Wednesday) have been 115km/hr at Wattamolla, and indicate the system is gradually weakening.

Damaging winds (averaging 60–70km/hr with gusts up to 100km/hr) are forecast to ease today, along the coastal fringe.

Rainfall
Rainfall has continued to be heavy overnight, but generally lower than 24-hour rainfall figures recorded on Tuesday. Significant falls have been recorded in the Hunter Valley, Newcastle and Sydney's northern suburbs:

Maitland – 301mm (AM, Wednesday)
Tocal – 171mm (AM, Wednesday)
Seaham – 152mm (AM, Wednesday)

Dungog – 312mm (AM, Tuesday)
Crawford – 259mm (AM, Tuesday)
Wallsend – 186mm (AM, Tuesday)

Dangerous Surf
There is very heavy surf is along the NSW coast associated with the system which may lead to localised damage and coastal erosion. Conditions are hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing – and the Bureau is working closely with NSW SES and Surf Life Saving NSW to ensure they have the most up-to-date information.

Flooding
Flood Warnings remain in place for the Hunter River, Hawkesbury and Nepean Rivers, Wyong River and Tuggerah Lake, Lake Macquarie, Paterson and Williams Rivers and Bulahdelah.

Background
The Bureau has been closely monitoring the developing weather, providing regular briefings to emergency services since Friday (17 April) and regularly updating the community through news media and social media channels (i.e. Twitter) with the most comprehensive and up to date information on www.bom.gov.au.

The Bureau began issuing severe weather warnings from Sunday for an intense low pressure system, with the following impacts

  • Destructive and damaging winds; and
  • Significant rainfall (likely to cause both flash flooding and riverine flooding); and
  • Dangerous surf conditions.
  • A media release was issued to 179 media outlets in the affected region on Monday.

Further information
The public are urged to closely monitor the Bureau’s website, tune into the media and local radio, and listen to the advice of emergency services. For storm and flood assistance, contact the NSW SES on 132 500, and for life threatening situations, call Triple Zero (000).

The Bureau is now also using Twitter to disseminate significant weather information to the New South Wales community. Follow @BOM_NSW. The Bureau's website remains the most up-to-date and comprehensive official source of information.

See the Bureau's website for the latest Warnings