Wild weather wreaked havoc across large parts of eastern Australia on Saturday as emergency authorities warned people in coastal areas to pay close attention to warnings.

The Bureau of Meteorology warned that “a large and complex weather system and developing east coast low” would have a “potentially serious” impact on parts of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania over the weekend and early next week.

On Saturday three people died on NSW and Queensland roads, and cars were swept away in Queensland by floodwaters as wild weather lashed the state.

In Sydney, forecast damaging winds and king tides forced the cancellation of Vivid light installations across the city.

Investigations were under way into whether the severe weather conditions contributed to a horror smash near Ipswich, west of Brisbane, that claimed the lives of a man and woman whose van collided with a semitrailer on the Warrego Highway around 8am.

“It just brings home to all of us the need to make sure we drive to the conditions, and that any fatality on our roads is an absolute tragedy,” the Queensland police service Acting Assistant Commissioner Peter Fleming said.

He pleaded with drivers to take caution even though the worst was over.

“You continually need to reassess your road travel and particularly now the winds are on the coastline, any boating or surf-related activities,” he said.

On Brisbane’s northside, the car park of Toombul shopping centre was flooded and pictures emerged on social media showing vehicles apparently being swept away.

The wild weather also spelled the end for a decades-old fig tree at Brisbane’s Normanby hotel, which crashed into an outdoor seating area.

On Friday night a utility vehicle was swept off the Capricorn Highway after being caught in flash flooding near Pine Hill Creek in Queensland’s central west just before 10pm, the ABC reported.

The driver, a 21-year-old woman, was rescued an hour later from the roof of her car by farmers and truck drivers.

South-east Queensland was soaked on Saturday as a strong upper trough moved south, some of the heaviest falls occurring in the Gold Coast hinterland.

The BoM said Upper Springbrook had received 267mm of rain in a 24-hour period, while 157mm fell at Deception Bay and 140mm at Burpengary.

Rough conditions at Currumbin beach on the Gold Coast on Saturday. Photograph: Dave Hunt/AAP

The SES had received more than 750 calls for help, but swiftwater rescue crews had not yet had to pluck anyone from the water.

South of the border, the BoM declared a severe weather warning along the entire NSW coast for what meteorologists believed was the first time in 30 years.

A woman died after her car hit a tree south of Sydney. The driver, believed to be in her 20s, died at the scene on the Princes Highway at Bulli Tops, north of Wollongong on Saturday afternoon. She was the only person in the car.

An evacuation centre was opened on the NSW northern coast as residents were warned heavy rain and flooding may force them to leave.

The NSW State Emergency Service issued a flood evacuation warning for people at Fingal Point, south of Tweed Heads, after it was predicted the Tweed River could flood.

An evacuation order would be made by authorities if necessary, but residents were told to be ready to go on Saturday afternoon.

Five people were rescued after their car got caught in flash floodwaters at Murwillumbah in the state’s north.

The BoM were expecting the wild weather to only get worse, with winds in excess of 90km/h expected to hit the state’s north on Saturday evening before moving south overnight and into Sunday.

BoM senior meteorologist Adam Morgan said it was unusual to see an east coast low tracking southward, and that it had brought about an unusual warning situation.

“We’ve got forecasters in NSW that can’t remember in 30 years having a flood watch out for the entire NSW coast,” he said.

Heavy rainfall of up to 150mm was likely for much of the affected area, with localised rainfall of up to 300mm in some areas.

On Saturday evening the weather had already knocked out power to thousands of people across Sydney and the central coast. About 800 homes were affected by power outages in areas including Sydney’s west and inner west, and the Sutherland shire.

On Saturday evening flood watches were also in place for the Hawkesbury and Nepean Rivers in low-lying areas of western Sydney, including around Richmond and Windsor.

“Once this weather system hits Sydney, a main focus now is particularly western Sydney,” SES spokeswoman Stephanie Sullivan said. “We’re expecting 150-200mm around Sydney overnight, really high figures considering we’ve got high tides.”

The NSW SES said people should prepare their homes for wet and windy weather by trimming overhanging branches, cleaning gutters and downpipes and parking their cars away from trees and power lines.



“If you don’t have to be out and about I think the best place to be this weekend is just staying inside and staying warm and safe,” said SES spokeswoman Becky Gollings.

“If you do have to be travelling, make sure you don’t go into any floodwater because that’s the majority of flood rescues we get called to.”

The acting NSW state emergency operations controller, Geoff McKechnie, said the dangerous weather would last through to Monday.

“With heavy rainfall, damaging winds and hazardous surf expected this weekend, we are advising everyone to take greater care.



“Motorists have been used to driving in dry conditions of late but heavy winds and rainfall brings with it a range of dangers including slippery roads and debris.



“If you need to be out plan your trip and check the relevant websites for updated information on traffic and weather conditions.”



James Taylor, the BoM’s acting manager in NSW, agreed, saying coastal areas would be “a bit soggy” after the downpour. He said the east coast low should clear NSW by Monday, before moving on to the northern and eastern coasts of Tasmania. But similar conditions could reappear over the course of the winter.

“There tends to be a peak in June for east coast lows,” Taylor said. “It’s not that unusual to see a system like this developing at this time of the year.”

Surf Life Saving NSW warned beachgoers to take care, as powerful four-metre swells were expected to hit the coast.

“The public needs to be aware that while our call-out teams are ready to respond to coastal emergencies, for this weekend we would advise people to think carefully before entering the water,” lifesaving manager Andy Kent said in a statement.

In Sydney, heavy winds damaged some Vivid festival installations including the Cathedral of Light at the Royal Botanic Gardens, prompting fears forecast winds up to 90km/h could further damage lights and hoardings, posing a threat to visitors.

Light projections would continue on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Customs House and Opera House, but organisers urged people to postpone their visit.

Lights at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Museum of Contemporary Art, Martin Place, Darling Harbour, Taronga Zoo and the majority of installations in Circular Quay would not operate.

The Destinations NSW and Vivid executive producer, Sandra Chipchase, apologised but said public safety was the main priority.

“Vivid Sydney still has another 14 nights to run, so we suggest visitors delay their trip until weather conditions improve,” Chipchase said.

Indoor installations at Westfield Sydney and The Galeries, as well as Vivid Music and Vivid Ideas events would continue.

Severe warnings were also issued for parts of Victoria and Tasmania. Parts of Victoria were on flood watch with rain and possible thunderstorms expected to develop across East Gippsland on Saturday, persisting overnight and through Sunday, the BoM said.

Rainfall of 20 to 40mm were expected during Saturday and 50 to 100mm during Sunday.

Minor to moderate flooding was likely to develop on Sunday particularly in the Snowy, Cann and Genoa catchments.

In Tasmania the State Emergency Service issued a severe weather warning for conditions expected to start on Sunday and stretching into Monday, including rain of up to 100mm and gusts up to 100km/h in parts.