Huge swell forces the cancellation of some Sydney ferry services as east coast of Australia hit with strong winds and torrential rain

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Travellers are being warned to expect delays on roads, rail, waterways and in the skies amid a day of wild weather, including snow falls in parts of New South Wales and Queensland and icy winds.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a road warning for drivers in Sydney’s eastern suburbs to exercise extreme care as gusty winds, slippery roads and rain will make driving conditions dangerous.

A huge swell forced the the cancellation of some Sydney ferry services between Manly and Circular Quay on Tuesday.

Jetstar cancelled a flight from Melbourne to Sydney on Tuesday afternoon while one Qantas and two Virgin flights going in the other direct were also grounded. A flight from Wellington to Sydney was facing a delayed arrival. Airlines have warned passengers to check for up dates.

Train commuters have also been told to allow extra travel time with delays to some services due to the wet weather conditions.

An estimated 800 households on the NSW Central Coast – Canton Beach, Noraville and Toukley – lost power and emergency crews have been working to restore electricity.

Sarah Scully, a Bureau of Meteorology forecaster, said a cold front that has headed north from Victoria has developed into a deep low pressure system off the coast of NSW and brought gale to storm force southerly winds.

“The worst of the winds have moved through Sydney now and overnight are expected to ease below the warning criteria,” she told the Guardian.

However, dangerous surf conditions will continue until about Thursday.

Victoria’s weather is expected to be settled until the weekend, because the state experienced the worst of it on Sunday and Monday, Scully said.

The NSW State Emergency Service has received almost 460 calls for help since Monday from as far south as Eden up to the mid north coast.

In Sydney, there have been 230 requests for assistance, with Sutherland, Warringah and Blacktown the worst affected areas.

“The majority of those jobs have been related to wind damage, we’ve had trees down on rooves and vehicles and roof damage from intense rain – issues with gutters,” an SES spokeswoman told the Guardian.

The SES is urging people to move their cars away from trees, secure loose outdoor items and steer clear of fallen power lines.

The Blue Mountains west of Sydney woke to a blanket of snow, while the bureau said there had also been falls in Queensland’s Granite Belt region, west of Brisbane, but flakes were few and far between and it was not expected to settle.

Blackheath Weather (@BlackheathWx) About 3cm on the ground now in my part of town. Another big chunk of convection heading approximately this way. Temperature now 0.1C and steady for the moment. Thanks to my wife for the photos. pic.twitter.com/xklWsnAmyQ

Snow was also reported across the border in northern NSW.

“It was sleeting for maybe 10 minutes, then some flurries of pure snow flakes started coming down,” Ken Kato told the ABC from Eukey.

Wild weather warning for Australia’s east coast, with chance of snow in Queensland Read more

About five centimetres of snow settled on Katoomba, Blackheath and surrounding areas on Tuesday morning, as a burst of cold weather hits the state.

The ice and snow temporarily forced the closure of the Great Western Highway at Katoomba, Mount Victoria and Blackheath, as well as a section of the Bells Line of Road.

Camels in the snow at New England Camel Co, NSW, Australia. Photograph: New England Camel Co

Snow also affected several local roads in the Central Tablelands and Snowy Mountains, with falls recorded in Oberon, Lithgow, and Armidale in the state’s north.

The arrival of a cold air mass about midnight caused temperatures to fall, and icy winds made it seem much colder.

At Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, the temperature felt like -4.6C early on Tuesday morning, even though the official temperature was 3.1C.

It was a similar situation in other southern inland communities, where the “feels like” temperature was at or slightly below zero.

Blackheath Weather (@BlackheathWx) 4cm to 5cm cover in my yard in Blackheath now, as of 6:10 am, measured in half a dozen spots. Snow depths vary even over fairly short distances, just like showers of rain do. pic.twitter.com/ciPxfrLBs3

Sydneysiders are being warned to take care as damaging and destructive winds lash the coast.

The intense Tasman low and associated cold front is producing winds averaging 60 to 70km/h, with gusts of more than 90km/h.

Ulladulla, on the south coast, recorded a wind gust of 130km/h just before 4am on Tuesday - the highest in its nine years of data.

Sydney Airport recorded a gust of 91km/h at 10am, while on the harbour it peaked at 85km/h.

Kirsty Kitto (@KirstyKitto) Mad morning commute from the blue mountains for me! #sydneyweather pic.twitter.com/JrROGDNZKN

Nine.com.au (@Ninecomau) So, this is the current situation on the Manly ferry. I'm getting seasick just from watching this... 🤢🌊 pic.twitter.com/DEphP57A9H

NSW assistant police commissioner Michael Corboy said roads will be slippery and visibility poor, and stressed the need to go slow and follow directions.

“It’s not just your life at risk – it’s the lives of the emergency service workers some of whom are volunteers,” he said in a statement.

with agencies