Sydney beaches closed as wild waves hit NSW coast: Newcastle, Bronte, Bondi closed
Updated ,first published
The NSW coast was battered by heavy rains on Saturday afternoon, sending hundreds of people calling for help as flash flooding affected communities north and south of Sydney.
The slow-moving, dangerous storm is causing flash flooding near Palm Beach on Sydney’s northern beaches and Umina on the Central Coast. The storm is expected to affect Woy Woy, Terrigal and Avoca Beach this afternoon, while Gosford, Brooklyn and Erina are also predicted to be affected by the storm around 3.20pm.
Meanwhile, more than 880 people have called for help from the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) for four flood rescue operations in Albion Park near Shellharbour, Marulan in the southern highlands and Picton in Sydney’s south-west tip, where people were trapped in vehicles by flash flooding.
While heavy rain caused flash floods in Mona Vale and Palm Beach, a severe weather warning was issued for the northern beaches. Central Coast and Mid North Coast regions can expect isolated rainfall of up to 120mm over the next 24 hours, as well as strong winds and hail.
NSW SES Mission Commander Sonya Oyston said people needed to remain alert and aware of weather conditions.
“We’re starting to see many catchments getting wet, and we’ve already seen the effects of flash flooding along the coast and in mountainous areas, so it’s important for people to take the necessary precautions and not become complacent,” Oyston said.
Most beaches on the NSW coast are closed on Saturday as large waves cause hazardous conditions for swimming, rock fishing and boating.
Actor Patch May, who lives in Vancouver but visited the area where he and his brother Mikey have played since they were kids, said the Cronulla Beach Rock Pool was “so terrible.”
Although they clung to the wire rope barrier, several large waves toppled them. “It was an absolute washing machine,” May said.
Patch, 33, and his brother Mikey, 31, grew up in Cronulla. The brothers recommended that anyone unfamiliar with the beach and without water safety skills stay out of the water on Saturday.
According to Surf Life Saving Australia’s Beachsafe app, most beaches on the NSW coast are closed, including Newcastle, Bronte, Tamarama, Coogee, Cronulla and Maroubra.
Surfline’s live beach cameras Conditions appeared to be poor at most beaches along the NSW coast. The waves were twice as high as in the past few weeks, averaging two meters compared to one metre. Most of it was a big pile of whitewash.
“It’s a very lumpy, strong, stormy wave. It looks like it has a lot of power, but it’s not good for surfing,” said Bill, a surfer from Newcastle who did not give his last name.
Beach scientist Andrew Short said: reporter After a period of small waves crashing onto the shore, larger waves will begin to reshape the beaches for more consistent surfing. He said this summer’s “wave drought” has been interrupted only occasionally and for short periods of time.
NSW Police have urged beachgoers to stay out of the water and avoid walking near areas subject to large four-metre waves causing hazardous conditions for swimming, rock fishing and boating.
Police said rock fishermen should avoid coastal rock platforms exposed to the ocean and seek a safe spot protected from the surf.
A Bureau spokesman said Sydney was expected to receive 30 to 100 mm of moderate to heavy rain the next day.
