Australia Battered by Intense Bomb Cyclone

Coastal communities face flooding, power outages, and travel disruptions.

A powerful bomb cyclone is currently impacting the eastern coast of Australia, unleashing destructive winds and torrential rainfall. New South Wales is experiencing widespread flooding and power outages as a result.

Widespread Damage Reported

Across the Central Coast and Newcastle regions, more than 30,000 **Ausgrid** customers are without power. The State Emergency Service has been overwhelmed with approximately 1500 calls for assistance in the last 24 hours, primarily related to fallen trees, roof damage, and flooding.

Some locations have already recorded over 200mm of rainfall and wind gusts reaching 125km/h. Evacuations have been ordered for residents in vulnerable low-lying areas like Wamberal and The Entrance North, where surf surges and coastal erosion pose a significant threat to properties.

Travel Disrupted

High winds have forced **Sydney** Airport to operate with only one runway, leading to numerous flight cancellations and delays. According to FlightAware, over 200 flights within, into, or out of Australia have been delayed today alone, with dozens cancelled as of early afternoon (FlightAware 2024).

While New South Wales has experienced severe weather events recently, including bushfires and floods, meteorologists are describing the current bomb cyclone as exceptionally damaging, because it combines intense rain, strong winds, and coastal impacts.

What is a Bomb Cyclone?

Meteorologists use the term bomb cyclone to describe a low-pressure system that undergoes rapid intensification, with its atmospheric pressure dropping by at least 24 millibars within a 24-hour period. This rapid intensification results in extreme weather conditions such as gale-force winds, heavy rainfall, and powerful surf.

Bomb cyclones are more common in the Northern Hemisphere. They are rare in Australia, especially those forming so close to the coast.

New Zealand Impact

Although the storm’s center remains over the Tasman Sea near Australia, its outer bands are influencing weather patterns in New Zealand, particularly in the upper North Island. A Heavy Rain Watch and Strong Wind Watch have been issued for Auckland and Northland by **MetService** for Thursday.

Forecasters are warning of potential surface flooding and travel disruptions, with gusts that may reach severe gale force in exposed areas. As the system pushes a wide area of moisture and instability across New Zealand, **Wellington** and **Christchurch** are also expected to experience rain and cooler temperatures from Thursday.

Coastal communities and boaters in northern New Zealand should anticipate hazardous marine conditions, as swell and wind from the Tasman Sea are expected to increase sharply later in the week.

Long-range forecasts from **NIWA** indicate that unsettled conditions may persist throughout July, particularly in the north. It is expected that warmer-than-average sea temperatures in the Tasman Sea will contribute to more episodes of heavy rainfall this winter.

New Zealanders are urged to monitor **MetService** forecasts closely, exercise caution near beaches and waterways in the upper North Island, and prepare for possible disruptions to domestic transport and flights later this week.

“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.