Sydney’s beaches are being lashed by storm force winds, whipping up 5m high waves and creating dangerous surf conditions.
Maroubra Beach is closed dxjmtzywue to a huge 8m swell and dangerous rips while Bronte and Tamarama beaches were also closed ahead of Friday’s wild weather.
Almost the entire stretch of northern beaches including Avalon, Collaroy, Dee Why, Freshwater, Manly and Narrabeen are all closed due to large surf and stormwater pollution.
The city is set to be pummelled by dangerous winds in excess of 100km/h, with a severe weather warning in place across almost the entire NSW coast.
On Thursday night, waves exceeding 10m were recorded off the coast of Sydney and there is potential for waves to peak at 7 to 8m before the end of the day on Friday.
The weather system which brought a second bout of major flooding to northern NSW and southeast Queensland has moved south.
A marine wind warning has been issued by the Bureau of Meteorology for storm force winds around Newcastle, Sydney and down to the Illawarra throughout Friday.
Waves are expected to peak as high as 5m and abnormally high tides are crashing into the coastline.
Police are advising surfers and swimmers to stay out of the water and avoid walking near surf-exposed areas.
Beachfront homes have been put on high alert ahead of surging waters and strong winds which are set to batter the coast on Friday.
In the northern beaches suburb of Collaroy, residents are hoping a $25 million sea wall will help protect homes from washing into the ocean.
A gale warning has been issued through to Saturday for enclosed waters in Sydney, as well as Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Batemans Bay and Eden.
The NSW SES has received 650 calls for help in the past 24 hours across the state, most as a result of damaging winds and fallen trees.
Assistant Commissioner Nicole Hogan has advised residents along the coast of NSW to stay inside where possible, tie down possessions in backyards and stay clear of fallen trees or powerlines.
In Rosebery, strong winds ripped off the roof of a three-storey building in the early hours of Friday morning.
Ten people had to be evacuated from the building.
Sydney is expecting up to 30mm of showers on Friday and another 20mm on Saturday before unseasonably warm weather returns on Sunday.
Strong winds are also forecast to hit Byron Bay, where floodwaters are beginning to recede.
There are still more than 21,000 people under evacuation orders in northern NSW as a result of the second major flooding event in the last month to hit the region.
