Tornado and severe storms devastate NSW south coast and Sydney

Consensus Summary

A violent tornado tore through Ulladulla on the New South Wales south coast, leaving a trail of destruction as severe storms battered the region. The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed the tornado, describing it as an unusual event, while witnesses captured footage of the rotating column of air sweeping through residential areas and businesses. Damage included roofs torn from homes, fallen trees, and power outages, with the State Emergency Service (SES) overwhelmed by calls for assistance. The tornado struck around 1pm, with ABC and SMH both reporting its occurrence, though the exact timing varied slightly between sources.

The severe weather was part of a broader storm system affecting both the south coast and Sydney. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the tornado was caused by a volatile low-pressure trough, which also brought heavy rainfall and damaging winds. In Ulladulla, 27 millimetres of rain fell rapidly, while Sydney experienced flash flooding and wind gusts up to 72km/h by 5pm on Saturday, as reported by SMH. The storms extended from Dubbo to Merimbula, creating a widespread hazard across the state.

Residents and emergency services described the event as chaotic and frightening. At the Native Cafe in Ulladulla, staff scrambled to secure outdoor furniture as winds intensified, with umbrellas and debris flying through the air. One witness told 7NEWS, 'I’ve never seen anything like it,' while SMH quoted Ulladulla mother Wishaya La Spina, who filmed the tornado from her car, saying, 'It was pretty scary.' The SES confirmed that most of the 230 calls for assistance across the state were from Ulladulla, highlighting the severity of the damage in the area.

While all sources agree on the tornado’s destructive impact, discrepancies arise in specific details. ABC and SMH differ on the exact time of the tornado, with one reporting 'just after 1pm today' and the other 'about 1pm on Saturday.' Additionally, the number of SES calls for assistance varies significantly, with ABC citing 'more than 90' and SMH reporting 'more than 230.' Rainfall measurements also conflict, as ABC notes 17 millimetres in Nowra, while 7NEWS and SMH focus on Ulladulla’s rainfall totals of 27 and up to 30 millimetres, respectively.

The aftermath of the tornado and storms has left authorities bracing for further challenges. The SES expects additional calls for assistance as severe thunderstorms persist into the evening, according to ABC. Meanwhile, Sydney’s cleanup continues, with flash flooding and lightning strikes reported by SMH. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued warnings for damaging winds and heavy rain across central and southeastern NSW, indicating that the region may face more severe weather in the coming days.