More than 20 beaches shut across NSW as ‘very dangerous’ storm looms

More than 20 beaches have been shut down across NSW as a “very dangerous” thunderstorm looms, with a huge swell swallowing one popular beach. A “very dangerous thunderstorm” is slated to hit parts of the Central Coast and Northern Beaches on Saturday afternoon, with “life-threatening” flash flooding already detected near Palm Beach and Umina.

Ettalong and Peral Beach recorded respective rainfall totals of 91.5mm and 82.5mm in just an hour on Saturday, the Bureau of Meteorology reported.

The slow moving thunderstorm is set to affect Woy Woy, Terrigal, Avoca Beach, Gosford, Brooklyn and Erina by 3.20pm.

People have been urged to keep clear of creeks and storm drains, not to walk or drive through flood waters, and to stay indoors away from windows.

Dee Why, Manly, Mona Vale, Narrabeen, Bronte, Clovelly, and Tamarama are among more than 20 beaches closed as the state is battered by wild weather.

Cronulla Beach vanished under heavy swells that submerged the shoreline all the way to the foreshore earlier on Saturday.

Images show waves crashing over the rock pool and hitting the foreshore wall as authorities close the beach in dangerous conditions.

Severe thunderstorm warnings have also been issued for Gosford, Katoomba, Lithgow, Woy Woy, Jenolan Caves and Springwood, while a damaging winds warning is in place for Cabramurra

SES receive more than 900 calls for help

Nearly 900 people have asked the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) for help so far, with heavy rainfall and damaging winds expected to continue for another 48 hours across Shoalhaven, Illawarra, Sydney and the Blue Mountains.

Flood rescues for people trapped by flash flooding in vehicles include some of the incidents the SES have responded to in Albion Park, Picton and Marulan over the last 24 hours.

Three campers, one who was suspected to have hyperthermia, also needed to be rescued in the Snowy Mountains overnight on Friday.

NSW SES acting assistant commissioner Sonya Oyston urged people not to become complacent as the wild weather persists.

“As people enjoy their holidays in communities they aren’t familiar with, it’s important they think about where their camp may be set up and move themselves away from under trees and next to waterways, including estuaries and creeks,” Ms Oyston said.

‘Large hail’

“We’re still going to see showers and thunderstorms through the weekend, continuing even into early next week, but the risk of severe weather will gradually decrease,” said Bureau of Meteorology Meteorologist Miriam Bradbury.

“Severe storms are certainly still a possibility through eastern parts of New South Wales on Saturday and in some areas on Sunday too, bringing that continued risk of heavy falls, damaging wind gusts and large hail,” she said.

Meanwhile, hazardous surf warnings are in place throughout the Sydney Coast, Illawarra Coast, Bateman Coast and Eden Coast with dangerous conditions expected for swimming, boating and fishing,

NSW Police said, “people should stay out of the water and avoid walking near surf-exposed areas”.

Sky News Meteorologist Marina Neuman said the storm threat would continue across the coast and potentially even reach as far as Brisbane,

“A severe thunderstorm warning remains in place from Port Macquarie, through Coffs Harbour, and as far north as Lismore,” she said.

Up north, the BOM said moister leftover from ex tropical cyclone Koji could still trigger areas with heavy rain in Northern Queensland.

In the Northern Territory, the western Top End continues to be hit by heavy rain near a tropical low, increasing the likelihood of a cyclone developing.

Flood watch alerts have been issued for areas between the Katherine River and Darwin as well as the Tiwi Islands.

Other capitals can expect a slightly more sunny weekend.

“Melbourne is looking at a very nice afternoon, 27C and partly sunny, hot in Adelaide at a high of 30C, but cooling off in Perth at 25C with some showers targeting the very southern coast of WA,” Ms Neuman said.

“Cooling off in Sydney and Canberra amid those stormy conditions, dropping back to an afternoon of 21C for both locations by Saturday afternoon,” she said.