Wild winds spur 100,000 emergency calls, Vivid shuts

Over 100,000 emergency calls, more than 5,500 homes without power and Vivid’s post-lockdown return stopped short in wake of wild winds experts warn will stay.

Just a day before winter officially kicks off, Sydneysiders are feeling the chill as Monday’s strong winds continue — but tomorrow could be colder still, experts have warned.

A severe weather warning remains in place for much of NSW’s east coast, with the Bureau of Meteorology asking residents to stay mindful of damaging wind gusts and fallen trees.

Residents of Sydney areas particularly on the North Shore woke up to fallen tree branches and leaves scattered across roads and properties.

Up to 25,000 Ausgrid customers were without power overnight, including thousands of homes in the suburbs of Gladesville, Hunters Hill, Lane Cove, Chatswood, Chatswood West, East Killara, North Turramurra, St Ives and Turramurra, Dural, Galston and surrounding areas.

There are still around 5,500 homes without power on Tuesday, according to a spokeswoman for the power provider, while the NSW State Emergency Service continues to add to their tally of over 100,000 weather related calls.

The strong winds brought down a number trees and damaged property. NSW RFS crews attended just over 60 jobs since the change hit. Picture: NSW RFS

The Ausgrid spokeswoman on Tuesday confirmed that the organisation had responded to more than 190 incidents overnight in locations with fallen trees or powerlines.

Of the 5,500 homes still without power, 1,000 are in Sydney, while the regions still affected by majority of the power complications include The Hunter Valley, NSW Central Coast and Newcastle.

NSW Rural Fire Service crews were called to help at more than 60 incidents because of the wild winds, including fallen trees blocking roads and crushing cars.

Due to Monday night’s weather conditions, multiple installations at Vivid Sydney also had to be partially or fully deactivated including Ephemeral Oceanic in Walsh Bay, Corpi Celesti in Barangaroo, Checkmate in Darling Harbour and Gravitational Grid, First Fleet Park, The Rocks.

On Monday a vigorous cold front swept across NSW bringing heavy rain and damaging winds. Picture: NSW RFS

It comes as a polar blast has swept across most of the state and temperatures are forecast to plummet even further on the back of high winds that will make it feel even colder.

The cold snap on Monday brought gusty evening storm and heavy rain across Sydney on Monday with reports of hail and large downpours.

A black Mercedes was crushed by a fallen tree branch due to the intense winds in Sydney’s east.

The luxury car was parked in front of the Gladswood Gardens apartment block in Double Bay when the car screen was smashed by the heaviest part of the branch.

A Mercedes car on Gladswood Gardens in Double Bay that had a tree land on it after wild weather on Monday afternoon. Picture: Supplied

It appears a significant part of the tree had splintered due to the recent wild weather.

Temperatures as low as -2C are anticipated for Central NSW and the Alpine regions in particular which have already seen a large dumping of snow.

Sydney can expect the temperature to drop to 8C on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

BOM meteorologist Stephen Tefanac said Tuesday and Wednesday would be the windiest of the days.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) released a severe weather warning for the state, with damaging winds of up to 40kmhr expected to kick off on Monday afternoon and last for the next three days.

“Due to a lot of wind chill it will feel colder feel colder than the real temperature,” Mr Tefanac said.

“Wednesday will be the coldest day. At a 14 to 15 degree maximum and a minimum of eight degrees.

Screen grab of the BOM radar at 5.10 pm on Monday afternoon.

“It’ll warm up again on Thursday with sunshine as the wind will ease off.

“Friday will be similar to Thursday except there will be another cold front developing during the day with possibility of showers later during the day.”

Fire and Rescue NSW announced on Tuesday “lots of snow has fallen” on Perisher and Thredbo, with “even more on the way”.

FRNSW said to make sure “everything is at least one metre from the heater and make sure you have a working smoke alarm”.,

Lots of snow has fallen on our #Perisher and #Thredbo Fire Stations today, with even more of the fluffy stuff on the way 🌨🏂 When you’re keeping warm tonight, keep everything at least one metre from the heater and make sure you have a working smoke alarm 🔥🏡 #FRNSWpic.twitter.com/ATtjRa8k5u

— Fire and Rescue NSW (@FRNSW) May 31, 2022

Monica Jiang, mother of three-year-old Claire Yang said she felt “this year is different, we’re feeling winter earlier...even though we’re in May it’s already freezing.”

“We are using winter bedding already because some days are particularly cold.

“Our family bought a steamer (warm steam vaporizer) this year to add moisture into the rooms.”

Winter is on the way with windy conditions developing across #NSWweather today and continuing for a few days. Colder temperatures on the way too with snow possible along the ranges. Warning current for damaging winds. Full details https://t.co/1yxAIPrpyJpic.twitter.com/KEiboj6RL4

— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) May 29, 2022

“You can feel your throat feeling itchy, and feel like you want to cough, we bought the steamer to add moisture into the air.”

“Claire prefers the warm weather because it easier to run around while less rugged up.”

Father Jason Fan has a three-year-old daughter Emily, and said his family has found the weather “crazy.”

“It can be freezing in the morning and then it’ll heat up in the lunchtime,” he said.

Snow has fallen at Thredbo, Aleks ,5 years old, and Anastasija, 2 years old, play in the snow at Thredbo Resort. Pictures: Thredbo Resort

“(With) the difference in the temperature and the temperature gaps, I’m worried my daughter will get sick.

“We bought the jacket she’s wearing because of this weather, you can see it covers her face.”

“In the nighttime, after we have showered we turn on the heater.

“We don’t normally put on the heater during this time.”

Heavier snow than usual for this time of year has fallen at Thredbo Resort. Picture: Boen Ferguson

“We’re all wearing jackets while inside.

“It feels more like July, August weather.”

Cousins Aleks Jaksic and Anastasija Zuric were enjoying the snow while on a family holiday at Thredbo.

Five-year-old Aleks said playing in the snow was “100 per cent fun” and that he “built a snowman with dad and his cousin.”

Two-year-old Anastasija said she helped in building the snowman too.