The NSW coast braced for significant weather over the weekend as a powerful low-pressure system swept down from the Tasman Sea, bringing dangerous swells and gale-force winds to exposed areas. Forecasters issued hazardous surf warnings, with the most severe impacts concentrated on the state's southern regions.
Swells reached 7 to 11 metres along the Illawarra coast during Friday afternoon, creating treacherous conditions for coastal activities. A low formed off the south coast and brushed the southern and central parts of the coastline between Friday and early Saturday, before the system moved into the Tasman Sea through the weekend.
A strong cold front swept coastal waters with fresh to strong southwesterly winds, while the southerly airstream increased to gale-force. Winds along the Illawarra coast reached 35 to 55 knots in the early afternoon on Friday, creating hazardous conditions for any vessels at sea or fishing from exposed rock platforms.
The situation on the Far South Coast prompted lifesaving authorities to close beaches and issue stark warnings. Beaches would be closed with surveillance patrols advising people to stay away as dangerous swells continued building through the weekend. A southerly swell was forecast for the March 28 to 29 weekend, ranging from up to eight metres for the Illawarra and Batemans Bay coasts and between four and six metres off the Eden coast.
The warnings reflected hard-earned lessons from previous disasters. Far South Coast lifesaving director Chris Briggs said he was very worried, noting conditions were very similar to past events and predicting the swell would keep getting bigger as the weekend progressed. The veteran lifesaver's concern carried weight given the region's tragic history with summer drownings.
Authorities advised recreational fishermen and boaters to avoid high-risk areas until conditions improved. Local angling clubs urged people to swap the deadly rock ledges for the safety of the estuaries, with club officials noting there were plenty of locations to fish without risking lives.
Sydney itself largely escaped the worst of the system. While the capital experienced strong winds and heavy showers, the impact was substantially less severe than southern regions. The system's track meant it primarily affected exposed coastal areas south of the city as it pushed toward the Tasman Sea.
The event underscores the importance of heeding official warnings when coastal weather deteriorates. Forecasters reminded the public that wind gusts can be 40 per cent stronger than forecast, and stronger still in squalls, whilst maximum waves can be twice the forecast height, meaning conditions on the ground often exceed predictions.