Wild weather calming down in NSW but wind and surf warnings still in place

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After causing wild weather in NSW this week, a weakening low-pressure system is now drifting north off the state’s coast, according to the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM).

“A series of low-pressure systems remain in the Tasman Sea. A secondary low that was moving northwards just offshore from the NSW coast has begun to weaken,” BoM said in a statement on Thursday morning.

“Winds are expected to ease about the high terrain in the north of the state later during the morning.”

The NSW State Emergency Services (SES) still has 32 warnings in place across the state, maintaining its orders from earlier this week for people in Wamberal and North Entrance to evacuate.

‘Strong to damaging’ winds

According to the BoM, severe weather no longer affects the Hunter, Metropolitan, Illawarra, and South Coast districts, and the warning for these areas has been cancelled.

However, “strong to damaging” winds averaging 55 to 65 km/h, with peak gusts of about 100 km/h, are still likely in parts of the Northern Tablelands, the Mid North Coast hinterland, and around the Border Ranges, and are expected to ease later on Thursday morning.

Locations which may be affected include eastern metropolitan Sydney, Wollongong, Ulladulla, and Tenterfield.

Six-metre-high waves

In another statement, BoM has warned about damaging surf conditions for coastlines between Seal Rocks and the NSW/Victorian border.

“These conditions are expected to begin easing during the day. Initially for southern coastlines, later during Thursday morning, and may ease throughout the warning area by late Thursday afternoon,” it said.

Waves with heights exceeding six metres have been observed in some of these areas.

Severe warning for Lord Howe Island

The bureau has also issued a severe weather warning for damaging winds for Lord Howe Island, 600km east of Port Macquarie.

A complex low-pressure “is bringing notably windy conditions and elevated seas to Lord Howe Island today”, according to BoM.

SES has advised people on the island to:

Keep clear of fallen power lines.
Stay indoors, away from windows, and keep children indoors.
Check your property regularly for erosion or inundation by sea water, and if necessary, raise goods and electrical items.
Stay out of the water and stay well away from surf-exposed areas.