Residents on Australia’s east coast are being told to prepare for a lashing of gale force winds and 5m swells over the weekend, while a cyclone could develop off Queensland.
Communities across northern NSW are beginning their second flood clean-up in a month as water levels recede and the rain subsides.
But the coast is set to be battered by damaging winds and dangerous surf conditions with a storm force wind warning and gale warnings covering much of the coastline over the weekend.
Warnings stretch from Crescent Head on the mid-north coast all the way down to Eden on the state’s southern border.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned the coast could experience “localised damage and coastal erosion” as the winds are expected to hit speeds of up to 100km/h.
“Beach conditions, particularly along exposed south-facing beaches, could be dangerous and people should stay well away from the surf and surf-exposed areas,” BOM said in a statement on Saturday morning.
“Locations which may be affected include Port Macquarie, Taree, Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong and Batemans Bay.”
The Snowy Mountains is also expecting chilly weather and heavy winds.
Meanwhile, heavy rain is predicted for the NSW south coast after the weather system which lashed the state’s north moved south.
“Heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding is forecast to develop over the parts of the south coast and Snowy Mountains on Saturday night and continue through Sunday. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 50 to 90mm are possible,” BOM said.
NSW SES are on high alert after the winds began to rip through Sydney on Friday, bringing down trees across the city as a result of saturation of the soil from the recent rain and is warning residents to move cars away from trees.
Sydney will bask in three days of sunshine after the winds ease on Saturday, with BOM forecasting warm weather and little chance of rain from Sunday to Tuesday.
The warm weather will stretch along the coast, with the sunny days a welcome reprieve for northern NSW.
Residents are also returning to their homes in low-lying properties in East Bellingen, Bulahdelah and in North Bellingen after the State Emergency Service issued all-clear messages.
Flood warnings remain in place for parts of the state, including from Bega to the Victorian border in the state’s southeast and Lismore’s Wilsons River.
Warnings continue for the Clarence, Hastings, Bellinger and Macleay rivers further north.
CYCLONE WARNING
Queensland is enjoying some warm weather and sunny skies, but US-based Global Forecast System (GFS) is warning a late-season cyclone could develop in the Coral Sea off the coast of Queensland next week.
The threat was first revealed by amateur forecasting service Brisbane Weather’s David Taylor, but it is not being ruled out by BOM.
Mr Taylor said the GFS has warned the system could form within days and has the potential to cross the coast near Cairns or Townsville.
He said the state should be “keeping a close eye” on it.
“From here, I will be watching the next model run to see if it holds … which this should,” Mr Taylor posted on Facebook.
BOM on Friday said the chance of a cyclone forming was between five and 20 per cent.
“An active trough with areas of thunderstorm activity extends from eastern Papua New Guinea towards the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu,” the Bureau said.
“A tropical low may form on this trough over the weekend, either in or east of the Eastern Region.
“There is some uncertainty with the location and movement of this system, however the likelihood of a tropical cyclone in the northern or eastern Coral Sea will increase next week.”
BOM said there was no concern for Queensland yet, but is keeping an eye on any developments.
Across to the western side of the country, heavy rainfall and damaging winds have lashed the coast of Western Australia and will continue to do so into the weekend.
A deep tropical low is lingering off the coast, bringing heavy rain to the western Pilbara, Gascoyne and far northwest corner of the Central West.
The 24-hour accumulated rainfall is predicted to exceed 90mm along parts of the coast.
A flood watch has been issued for parts of the Pilbara and Gascoyne coast after a dry summer while damaging wind gusts have also been predicted.
BOM is forecasting the wind and rain to ease into the weekend as the system weakens and moves away from the region.
