A ferocious low-pressure system, a “bomb cyclone,” is blanketing Australia’s eastern coast with torrential rain and stormy winds that have already seen evacuation orders issued and large-scale disruption.
Tuesday saw officials cautioning that weather in New South Wales (NSW) would worsen in the coming 24 hours, with predictions of between 250mm of rain and 125kmph (78mph) wind speeds.
Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib called the storm system “enormous,” warning that conditions are about to get worse. “It might look pretty bad right now, but the horrible thing is the situation is going to get worse,” Dib stated during a press conference.
People in coastal erosion-sensitive areas have been told to flee, with multiple communities along NSW’s Mid North Coast under minor flood warnings.
Emergency services attended to more than 900 calls for help on Tuesday, an indication of the extent of the storm’s impact.
The severe weather also caused disruptions in air travel, with several domestic flights suspended from Sydney Airport, impacting major operators such as Qantas and Virgin Australia.
Residents are still being asked to stay vigilant and heed safety advice as the storm system continues to advance.