A low-pressure system forming off the north coast of New South Wales is expected to bring widespread rain and strong winds from Friday night into Saturday, affecting the Hunter, Sydney, and Illawarra regions, according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM).
The BoM's Jiwon Park said it was too early to pinpoint the worst-hit areas, but such systems typically bring impactful weather with wind, rain, and hazardous surf. Moderate to heavy rainfall could cause flash flooding, and severe weather warnings may be issued for heavy rain, damaging winds, and dangerous coastal conditions.
Daily rainfall totals of 50-100mm are possible in parts of the Hunter, Central Coast, and Sydney metro area, with damaging winds up to 60km/h and gale-force gusts up to 90km/h along the coast on Saturday. A secondary low is forecast to affect areas north of Port Macquarie or Nambucca Heads on Sunday, bringing strong winds and intense surf with potential coastal erosion.
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) urged residents to prepare for extreme weather, monitor alerts via the Hazards Near Me app, and have a response plan. Assistant Commissioner Nicole Hogan noted that many catchments are still wet from recent events, increasing the risk of flash flooding and renewed river rises.
Snow is possible above 1,000 metres in the central and northern ranges, potentially disrupting transport due to icy roads. The warning comes after a powerful storm earlier this month left tens of thousands without power and prompted over 1,300 SES callouts in 24 hours.
