“Bomb Cyclone” Batters Australia’s East Coast, Flooding Homes
A powerful storm system, described as a “bomb cyclone,” has unleashed its fury across Australia’s eastern coast, bringing torrential rainfall, damaging winds, and widespread flooding. Communities are grappling with the aftermath, as emergency services respond to numerous calls for assistance.
Coastal Communities Face Destruction
Intense winds and heavy downpours have ravaged the eastern seaboard, toppling trees, damaging properties, and inundating roads. In Burrill Lake, on the NSW south coast, approximately 200 properties were swamped overnight, according to the State Emergency Services.
Emergency crews have been stretched thin, responding to a surge of rescue incidents near Shoalhaven, where flash floods have swept through the area. Fallen trees, powerlines, and damaged roofs have been the primary cause of concern overnight.
Several towns, including Morton and Ulladulla, were hammered with over 200mm of rainfall. Warnings remain in effect for areas stretching from Queensland’s Lockyer Valley to Bega on the NSW south coast, advising residents to exercise extreme caution as the severe weather persists due to a “vigorous” coastal low offshore.
The storm, categorized as a bomb cyclone, was forecast to track southward on Wednesday before turning back towards the Tasman Sea on Thursday. Its influence has extended to New Zealand, particularly impacting the upper North Island.
New Zealand Also Impacted
The remnants of the bomb cyclone are poised to impact New Zealand, according to weather forecasts. Heavy rainfall, potentially triggering flash floods, continues in the southeast and extending south towards Bega, inland to Braidwood. Isolated totals could reach 120mm, although conditions are expected to ease later in the day. There are currently 29 warnings in effect, with residents in Sanctuary Point being urged to seek higher ground.
Storm’s Impact Felt Widely
By early Wednesday morning, NSW SES crews had responded to over 2320 incidents. The low-pressure system shifted southward from Newcastle toward Sydney, the Illawarra, and the South Coast. Moreover, Endeavour Energy reported that over 17,000 homes and businesses, from western Sydney down to the Illawarra, are without power. Flights from Sydney Airport were canceled for a second day.
Coastal erosion is a concern, prompting resident evacuations on the Central Coast. Ryan Lloyd, the Dunleith Tourist Park manager, reported that beaches were severely impacted as wind gusts and swells intensified. Lloyd described the situation as “pretty wild — pretty full on — a bit scary for the home-owners too.”
The Bureau of Meteorology predicted another low-pressure system would intersect the storm’s path later on Wednesday.
Fujiwhara Effect Amplifies Storm’s Intensity
The interaction of two low-pressure systems is intensifying the winds and rainfall across the south coast, according to senior meteorologist Jonathan How. This phenomenon, known as the Fujiwhara effect, involves the spiraling of two east coast lows around each other, which is a rare occurrence, according to Andrew Dowdy, an associate professor and weather phenomena expert at the University of Melbourne.
According to the Insurance Council of Australia, insured losses from severe weather events in Australia have reached $7 billion in 2023 alone, highlighting the increasing financial impact of extreme weather events (Insurance Council of Australia 2023).
Looking Ahead
As the storm continues to impact communities, residents are urged to stay informed and heed warnings. Cleanup efforts will likely be extensive in the coming days. Further updates will be provided as the situation develops.
