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<\/p>\nAuthorities are urging beachgoers to stay away from the NSW coastline this weekend, with potential “one-in-100-year” weather conditions forecast to hit the state.<\/p>\n
Gales are whipping up huge seas and swells, triggering a warning for coastal erosion south of Sea Rocks and hazardous surf conditions from today through the weekend.<\/p>\n
Surf Life Saving NSW general manager of public safety and emergency management Brent Manieri said during the next 36 hours to 48 hours, there would be “surf heights exceeding 5 metres” for the majority of the Batemans Bay to Hunter stretch of coastline.<\/p>\n
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Waves exceeding 10m are expected along parts of the NSW coast. (ABC News: Liam Patrick)<\/p>\n
“We’re going to see swell periods in excess of 15 to 16 seconds, so not only are we going to see large surf, we’re going to see extremely hazardous and powerful surf,” Mr Manieri said.<\/p>\n
“If you are heading down to the coast this weekend or you had plans to head down to the coast this weekend to swim, surf or utilise your boat and fish, forget it.<\/p>\n
“The advice we have at this point in time is that the size and conditions that we’re going to experience over the next 36 hours is potentially a one-in-50 to one-in-100-year event.”<\/p>\n
He said by early tomorrow afternoon, there would be a hazardous surf warning across the majority of the coastline.<\/p>\n
Conditions will hamper surf life saving efforts<\/p>\n
The Eden wave buoy has already recorded a maximum wave at 13.5m, and peak heights near 10m will spread up the coast this afternoon from the South Coast to the Hunter.<\/p>\n
Surf will reach an absolute peak later tonight, where the highest waves may even surge close to 15m.<\/p>\n
The Bureau of Meteorology is warning damaging surf will continue into tomorrow before a gradual easing later in the day.<\/p>\n
Winds will also ease through Saturday as the Tasman low retreats away from the coast.<\/p>\n
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Surf Life Saving NSW says its emergency response may be hampered by conditions. (ABC News: Liam Patrick)<\/p>\n
Mr Manieri said the weather and swells were expected to “significantly impact our ability to respond and undertake search and rescue events this weekend”.<\/p>\n
Surf conditions and the size of the surf may hamper water asset deployment in certain sections of the coast, while wind strength and direction could affect aerial assets including the Westpac helicopter service.<\/p>\n
Mr Manieri urged people to change their weekend plans and heed the advice to stay away from the coastline.<\/p>\n
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Hazardous surf warnings are in place today and extend throughout the weekend.\u00a0 (ABC News: Liam Patrick)<\/p>\n
“This weekend, the size, the conditions that we’re going to experience, probably exceed even those of the most experienced surfer,” he said.<\/p>\n
“We had similar size surf 12 months ago over the course of a weekend. We lost six lives on that weekend. We can’t have the same thing occur.”Strongest winds still ahead\u00a0<\/p>\n
The clash of polar air with the typical warm and humid air that resides over the region in March has resulted in the rapid development of a low pressure system off the NSW coast.<\/p>\n
The low will continue to deepen this afternoon and evening, triggering a rare storm force marine wind warning south of Norah Head, an indication winds are at an equivalent strength to a category two tropical cyclone.<\/p>\n
Seasons clash with polar blast and summer cyclone<\/a><\/p>\n A tropical cyclone is tracking towards the WA west coast and a polar blast with thunderstorms is forming over the east.<\/p>\n Along the coastline, winds have been building all day, and gusts recorded by mid-afternoon include 119km\/h at Green Cape and 130km\/h\u00a0at Montague Island.<\/p>\n But the strongest winds are still ahead and will also extend up the coast to the Illawarra, where gusts could hit 120km\/h \u2014 30km\/h above the damage threshold and capable of bringing down trees.<\/p>\n Sydney may experience gusts above 100km\/h into this evening, most likely along the southern coastline from Cronulla to Bondi.<\/p>\n Passengers at Sydney Airport have been told to expect delays today due to the strong winds affecting runway operations.<\/p>\n ‘Be alert and aware’ A deep Tasman low is whipping up huge surf along the NSW coast, with a warning for damaging waves and coastal erosion. (ABC News)<\/p>\n With weather conditions set to worsen, NSW State Emergency Service (SES) Superintendent Matt Kirby said people should prepare their homes now.<\/p>\n “The winds will be strong this weekend … tie down any loose items, don’t park under trees and don’t shelter under trees during storms,” he said.<\/p>\n “Be alert and also be aware of any Hazards Near Me notifications for those warnings.”<\/p>\n He said the SES would be keeping an eye on coastal erosion, which could be possible along the coast from Forster to the Victorian border.<\/p>\n It could pose a significant risk to prone sites including Wamberal and North Entrance on the Central Coast, and Stockton near Newcastle.<\/p>\n The storm overnight in Sydney brought down trees. (Facebook: NSW SES Manly Unit)<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/616ceba0eeca1126216228a5cc7fd4c2.png\")
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