Large areas along the coast of New South Wales are bracing for a turbulent weekend, with weather comparable to a severe coastal low that hit the state earlier this month, as per forecasts from the Bureau of Meteorology. A new low-pressure system building off the northern coast of NSW is expected to bring widespread rain and powerful winds, affecting everything from the Hunter Valley through to the Illawarra region, starting as early as Friday night and continuing into Saturday.
Residents of Sydney woke up to a damp Wednesday, with cooler temperatures and persistent rain happening across central and eastern NSW. The bouts of rain are expected to last several days until the low-pressure system intensifies, potentially leading to flash flooding in certain areas.
BOM meteorologist Jiwon Park stated it was still premature to pinpoint the areas most at risk or the full severity of the impending weather. These weather events could lead to “impactful conditions” in terms of wind, rain, and surf, according to Park, with the bureau issuing severe weather alerts for heavy rainfall, intense winds, and hazardous coastal conditions as the system develops.
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) preemptively warned the public to prepare for extreme weather, with potential rainfall of 50-100mm in areas like the Hunter Valley, Central Coast, and the Sydney metropolitan area. Nicole Hogan, the SES’s assistant commissioner, stressed the importance for residents to stay informed through the Hazards Near Me app and develop a response plan for severe weather scenarios. She highlighted that many of the state’s catchments were still saturated from previous weather events and could respond rapidly to new rainfall, potentially leading to flash flooding.
The peak of the rainfall is expected on Saturday, accompanied by gusty winds reaching up to 60km/h and gale-force gusts of up to 90km/h along the coastal regions. The BOM also indicated the possibility of snowfall above 1000 meters in the central and northern highlands, which could lead to disruptions on some transport routes due to slippery road conditions outside the regular snow areas.
Peter Hannam is an Environment Editor for the Guardian.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/30/nsw-weather-coastal-low-weekend-bom-forecast-rain-wind-alert-ses
