Sydney smothered by wild surf
RAW VISION: Wild surf arrives at Coogee and Bondi following a night of ravaging storms.
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- Winds reached 127km/h
- SES received 950 calls for help
- Roofs blown off in Bondi and Bundeena
- Ferry services suspended
- Weather system moves north
- Apocalypse wow: Sydney hit by wild weather
- How the storm unfolded
With a gloomy sky, howling winds, bricks strewn across roads and fallen trees, Sydney remains scarred after a night of wild weather.
For Sydney the wind will greatly ease throughout the day, but we can expect a few showers
Ferry services between Manly and Circular Quay are suspended until at least 2pm due to rough waters, with shuttle buses operating instead.
Weather damage ... strong winds tore the roof off a shop in Bondi. Photo: Wolter Peeters
The Transport Management Centre urged public transport passengers and motorists in Sydney to allow extra travel time today.
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Much of the city, particularly the south, was battered and bruised overnight, with roofs ripped off houses and shops, flash flooding and power out in thousands of homes.
Blown away ... the sand has been blown up and off the beach at Bondi. Photo: Miriam Andersen-Ward, smh.com.au reader
The highest wind speed of 127km/h was recorded at the Royal National Park yesterday afternoon, with winds up to 94km/h on Sydney Harbour.
"It was quite blowy," State Emergency Service spokeswoman Becky Gollings said.
The SES received nearly 1000 calls for help, mostly for fallen trees and damaged roofs.
Huge waves ... big swell at Maroubra Beach this morning. Photo: Ben Rushton
Strong winds tore the roof off a house in Bundeena and the roof off a shop in Bondi, Ms Gollings said.
Bricks were lying on the road outside the clothes shop on Gould Street this morning.
Scaffolding fell on to units in Duncan Street, Maroubra, and several residents were evacuated, Fire and Rescue NSW said.
Cordoned off ... the roof of a shop was blown off in Bondi. Photo: Wolter Peeters
There was localised flooding in Tempe and Marrickville, while fallen trees and other wind damage was reported in Bondi, Sutherland and Caringbah.
At Bombala, in the far south of the state, three people were rescued after flash flooding trapped them in their house.
Rough seas caused coastal erosion on the northern beaches, while sections of the beach promenade at Batemans Bay were washed way, Ms Gollings said.
Sand has been blown on to the promenade at Bondi Beach. Photo: Miriam Andersen-Ward, smh.com.au reader
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a warning this morning for more rough seas and "abnormally high tides" along the NSW coast.
The storm brought down power lines and cut electricity to 25,000 homes and businesses in Sydney, the central coast and the Hunter.
Ausgrid crews were working to restore power to the remaining 1000 homes in Sydney this morning.
Destructive ... a shop roof has been blown off in Gould Street, Bondi. Photo: Wolter Peeters
Weatherzone meteorologist Ben Domensino said the winds would ease in Sydney today as the weather system moved north.
"For Sydney the wind will greatly ease throughout the day, but we can expect a few showers," he said.
"What's been causing it is a complex low pressure system which is located on the Tasman Sea, that has been [bringing] very strong winds and a band of heavy rain along the coast."
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NSW's wild start to winter
Taken on Cockatoo Island ferry wharf as wild weather hits Sydney. Photo: Steven Siewert
He said Sydney had received about a third of its average June rainfall in the first six days of the month.
The Transport Management Centre said Cronulla to Bundeena ferries were also cancelled this morning, while the Wakehurst Parkway on the northern beaches was closed due to flooding at Oxford Falls.
Traffic lights were also blacked out at the intersection of Princes Highway and Waratah Street at Kirrawee.
Weatherzone.com.au is owned by Fairfax Media, publisher of this website.
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