Waves crash into the grounded coal ship Pasha Bulker at Nobby's Beach in Newcastle as other bulk carriers enter the harbour. Picture: Jamie Wicks
Dan Box
June 19, 2007
THE NSW State Emergency Service has urged residents in coastal NSW to take extreme care during storm conditions forecast for tonight and tomorrow.
See the latest bureau weather map
Emergency services along the Eastern coast of NSW are bracing themselves for the worst tonight with a cyclone in the Tasman Sea expected to pass close to land from midnight.
Winds in excess of 100 kilometres an hour are predicted to scour the coast between the Hunter Valley and the Illawarra, easily powerful enough to cause widespread property damage.
A spokesman for the State Emergency Service said the organisation had around 500 people on standby along a stretch of coast ranging over a few hundred kilometres.
"We're just basically watching the whole of the South Coast. We've got no feeling for this whatsoever, so we'll be up all night watching what is happening. Really we can't react until we know what we are reacting to," he said.
Mike de Salis, of the Bureau of Meteorology said exposed areas of the coast, such as Ulladulla and south east Sydney, would bear the brunt of the storm, which is expected only to dissipate after midday tomorrow.
"The actual weather system itself is not going to come on shore but will stay in the Tasman. Its effects will be very clearly felt," he said.
The SES advises people to stay indoors and away from windows during the storm.
People who must be outside are warned to keep clear of fallen trees and power lines, never walk or drive through floodwater, and stay clear of creeks, storm drains, culverts and causeways.
The storm also will make beaches dangerous, and people are warned to stay out of the sea and any areas exposed to surf.
The SES is advising residents to prepare for the storm by securing or putting away any loose items around their homes, and moving vehicles under cover and away from trees.
Boat owners should ensure their vessels are properly secured.
Both the weather bureau and the SES are advising people to listen to radio stations for weather warnings and updates, which will be issued regularly today.
Latest warnings can also be found on the Bureau of Meteorology website at www.bom.gov.au
- with AAP
