BOM issues severe weather warnings for damaging winds over NSW, Victoria, QLD and SA
In four states, millions of Australians will be hit by severe weather with warnings of damaging winds of up to 100 km/h.
Some residents are being warned to stay indoors, while it is feared that the soggy soil in areas recovering from recent heavy rainfall is at risk of falling trees and power lines.
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The strong cold front and low-pressure system causing the Arctic explosion will be strongest on Tuesday, the Bureau of Meteorology predicts.
The system also brings cold temperatures and snow to some areas.
Conditions in most areas are not expected to ease until late Wednesday.
On Tuesday, severe weather warnings of damaging winds were enacted in four Australian states. Credit: Windy.com
New South Wales
In New South Wales, forecasters have warned of wind gusts from 90 km/h to 100 km/h, mainly in areas east of the Great Dividing Range.
The weather bureau said some areas could withstand gusts of 110 km/h.
A severe weather warning for damaging winds has been issued for Sydney, the Hunter, Mid North Coast, Central, Southern, Northern Tablelands, South Coast, North West Slopes, and the Snowy Mountains.
The warning also relates to the ACT.
Nearly 13,000 homes in NSW were without power on Tuesday morning.
“A deep low-pressure area over the southwestern Tasman Sea will maintain a strong westerly flow over NSW on Tuesday,” the Bureau of Meteorology said Tuesday morning.
“Winds are expected to decrease in the north later in the day.”
Emergency services have urged people in warning areas to move their vehicles under cover and away from trees, secure loose objects on their property and avoid fallen power lines.
Victoria
A similar warning has been issued for areas such as Portland, Nelson, and southwestern Victoria.
“Today, damaging winds are possible on the far southwest coast of Victoria as a powerful southwesterly current move over western Victoria,” BOM said.
The agency warns of wind gusts of 90 km/h and thunderstorms and showers.
Conditions are expected to ease on Tuesday evening.
Sheep grazers in the Wimmera, Northern Country, North Central, North East, South West, Central, West and South Gippsland and East Gippsland areas have been warned of the risk of livestock loss if exposed to cold temperatures and wind.
Queensland
More than 6,000 people are without power in southeastern Queensland on Tuesday morning.
A severe weather warning for damaging winds has been issued for the southeast coast, Wide Bay and Burnett, Darling Downs, and Granite Belt.
“A strong trough and cold front moved across southern Queensland overnight, with strong westerly to southwest winds developing in the wake of the trough system,” BOM said.
“Saturated soils in southeastern Queensland pose an increased risk of wind gusts knocking over trees and power lines.”
The agency has warned that people in higher elevations, including the Scenic Rim and Main Range, are most at risk, with peak surges of around 90 km/h.
Emergency services have urged people to watch for fallen power lines, move their cars away from trees and undercover, and secure loose outdoor gear.
South Australia
The severe weather warning for the Flinders and Northeastern Pastoral Regions has been canceled.
However, damaging gusts over 90 km/h are still possible for Mount Gambier, Murray Bridge, Kingscote, Victor Harbor, Meningie, and Jamestown.
“This morning, a strong southwesterly current is stretching across southeastern South Australia as a series of troughs from the Southern Ocean enter the country, at risk of damaging winds until tonight,” the agency said.
