Strong winds are driving hazardous conditions along Sydney’s coast, whipping up massive swells amid warnings of gale force winds for Sydney’s coastal waters.
Beachgoers, boaties and fishers have been urged to stay away from the NSW coast amid a one-in-100 year swell warning for the weekend, with waves as big as two-storey buildings predicted as severe winds whip up dangerous surf.
Surf Life Saving NSW issued a hazardous surf warning for Sydney’s coastal beaches, with swells expected to reach up to four metres as the swell train generated by an offshore low pushes toward the NSW coastline on Saturday.
Authorities are warning residents and beachgoers to exercise caution, with gusts reaching up to 110km/h in parts of the state.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued strong wind warnings for Saturday for Sydney and Coffs Harbour, and gale force warnings for Macquarie, Hunter, Sydney, Illawarra, Batemans and Eden coastal waters.
As of 7am, Marine Rescue reported Sydney’s recreational boat community seemed to be heeding warnings to stay out of the water.
Southerly storms hit Sydney about 5pm on Friday, bringing more heavy rain and strong winds.
Dozens of flights in and out of Sydney were cancelled due to the wild weather.
Surfers took advantage of the enormous swell at Maroubra in the city’s east on Friday, and are likely to do so this weekend.
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