'Once-in-50-year' weather phenomenon to batter Sydney as flights cancelled, massive swells build up
Flights in and out of Sydney Airport were cancelled due to wild weather that continued to blast NSW on Friday, with the conditions expected to run into the weekend in what has been touted as a once-in-50-year weather event.
The disruptions come as Sydneysiders are being warned to brace for more wild weather following last night's snap storm, which left thousands without power and brought public transport to a halt.
At least 50 domestic flights have now been cancelled or delayed due to the rough conditions, with some parts of the state, including Perisher and Thredbo, blanketed in snow months before expected.
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Sydney and much of the NSW coast are set to be slammed by massive swells this weekend. Sam Mooy/SMH
By 10.30am today, at least 50 domestic flights scheduled to land had been cancelled, and 40 planned departures were also grounded.
Surf Life Saving chief executive Steven Pearce warned NSW is "going to see swells we haven't seen in decades up and down the coastline".
Pearce warned the state will be hit by somewhere between seven and 11 metres of swell, accompanied by winds of more than 100km/h.
"It really is going to be a hazardous and ferocious weekend for anyone going down near the coastline," he said.
The peak swell is expected tonight, with a damaging surf warning in place, which could bring erosion and flooding for coastal areas.
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Dozens of domestic flights have been cancelled due to severe winds. Nine
Those conditions are expected to ease by tomorrow morning, however the hazardous surf warning will remain in place for the rest of the day.
Pearce urged people to stay out of the water this weekend, warning the conditions are so rough that Surf Life Saving may not be able to use jetskis in some locations.
Some Sydney ferry services will also stop running after 8pm today due to the high swells.
Senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology Christie Johnston said yesterday's conditions brought strong winds, heavy rainfall and even hail in some parts of Sydney.
"That system has now moved offshore, and we are now expecting a very cold system behind it," she told Today.
"There could still be some severe storms today, but they are most likely to just produce damaging winds in south-eastern parts of NSW," she said.
"That is because of an offshore low-pressure system that is spitting up some very strong winds, some very large surf [and] some very big waves as well."
Temperatures across Sydney today are expected to reach highs of 21 degrees with 130km/h winds already being recorded across the city.
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Perisher has been blanketed in snow months earlier than usual. Perisher
The State Emergency Service (SES) has said that damaging winds and large swell are expected to carry on throughout the entire weekend across most of the NSW coastline.
The SES responded to 591 incidents in 24 hours, mostly across Dubbo and Sydney's Northern Beaches after strong winds tore down trees, causing damage to homes and infrastructure.
"Even though the thunderstorms have passed, this system is now bringing a different set of risks with strong winds and dangerous surf expected right along the coast," NSW SES State Duty Commander, Assistant Commissioner Dean Storey said.
"We're asking people to stay indoors during strong winds, keep clear of trees and powerlines, and secure anything around their home that could become airborne."
SES responders were called to a street in Hornsby last night after a tree was ripped from its roots and damaged two homes.
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A tree toppled onto a Hornsby home. Nine / Supplied
Sydney Harbour was blanketed in cloud on Friday morning. Nine
Firefighters had to cut through branches of the fallen tree to rescue a person who was inside one of the homes the tree collapsed on.
"I didn't feel it was safe to stay [at the home] last night," a resident told 9News.
"But we had no choice."
Last night's wild conditions halted Metro services between Sydenham and Chatswood and left thousands without power across Sydney.
Transport around the city is now back up and running.
Melbourne feels the brunt of bitter cold snap
Sydney's wild weather is causing havoc for passengers on the ground in Melbourne, with more than 40 flights cancelled.
More than 20 Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar flights to Sydney from Melbourne have been cancelled, along with 20 arrivals.
More than 40 flights Sydney arrivals and departures have been cancelled at Melbourne Airport this evening. Nine
Qantas is running additional flights tomorrow to accommodate passengers.
The unseasonably chilly conditions brought Victoria's first snowflakes, with the mercury plummeting below zero at Mt Hotham, bringing 15cm of fresh snow.
Conditions are expected to improve slightly tomorrow.
High winds and heavy rain has battered Melbourne over the last 24 hours, with more than 430 SES requests for assistance since midday yesterday.
SES Victoria has received more than 430 calls for assistance since midday yesterday. Nine
SES Victoria received 25 calls about flooding, 80 for building damage and 275 reports of trees down.
Kilmore, Heidelberg, Moorabbin and Whittlesea were some of the worst hit areas.
The city peaked at 16.7 degrees today, with rain totals between 3mm and 11mm seen across Melbourne.
As much as 62mm of rain was dumped on parts of regional Gippsland since midnight.
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