NewsBite

Sydney airport: Flights cancelled, delayed as damaging winds hit

THE wildest winds for three years have hit parts of Sydney, forcing widespread flight cancellations from across the country. Several flights out of the Gold Coast have been delayed or cancelled.

Debra Killalea and Benedict Brook
4 min read
August 18, 2017 - 2:13PM
Flights cancelled in and out of Sydney due to strong winds

WILD weather is smashing Australia’s east coast on Friday with scores of flights delayed at Sydney Airport and gusts of more than 100km/h buffeting the city’s harbour — the strongest winds for a year.

The winds have already exceeded the worst expectations of forecasters and several flights between Sydney and the Gold Coast have been delayed or cancelled.

Nine flights out of the Gold Coast to Sydney have been cancelled for the rest of the day and several others have been delayed.

Virgin Australia, Jetstar and Tigerair have also cancelled several flights due to arrive from Sydney to the Gold Coast this afternoon and this evening.

More than 40,000 homes across Sydney and the Central Coast have been hit by power outages, roofs have been ripped off buildings and the NSW State Emergency Service say they have been flooded with calls.

At least 120 flights at Kingsford-Smith have been cancelled and many more delayed. Into the afternoon flights continue to be disrupted with some services to Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns and Canberra axed on all major airlines.

Travellers have been advised to check with their individual airlines amid warnings that further delays are likely to occur as the wind gusts pick up later today.

It comes as a looming cold front is set to send temperatures plummeting across southeastern Australia.

Earlier on Friday, the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) advised that a large swath of NSW, from the north of Newcastle all the way south to the Victorian border would be affected by severe winds.

Sydneysiders were warned to brace for 90km/h gusts. But, at 11.30am, a wind speed of 106km/h was reported on Sydney Harbour. At Kurnell, in southern Sydney, a gust of 102km/h was recorded right in the flight path of the city’s airport, that’s the highest wind speed recorded in that location for three years.

Sydney Airport itself recorded a gust of 95km/h just after midday.

Toddler's flyaway hair illustrates just how windy is it in Sydney

Sydney mum Amy shared with news.com.au her family’s experience of the wild conditions. A trip to the city’s Centennial Park turned into a weather assault course for her five-year-old son with is his hair whipped up by the gale force winds.

Sky News Weather meteorologist Tom Saunders told news.com.au a cold front is moving north from Victoria which will cause winds to turn even cooler south-westerly tonight.

“Ahead of the front snow has already fallen in Oberon and should descend to 900m on the NSW southern and central ranges tonight,” he said.

Just a small selection of Virgin Australia's cancellations from Sydney Airport. Qantas and Jetstar are in a similar predicament.
Just a small selection of Virgin Australia's cancellations from Sydney Airport. Qantas and Jetstar are in a similar predicament.

“Snow is predicted down to 600m in Victoria and 300m in Tasmania. Over 50cm has fallen across the Alps over the past 48 hours after heavy rain earlier in the week.”

Mr Saunders said the wild winds hitting NSW were caused by a vigorous westerly airstream which has developed between a high over South Australia and a deep low in the Tasman Sea.

“The winds are gale force today along the NSW central and southern coast and ranges and will remain strong to gale force through Saturday,” he said.

“Gale force refers to winds averaging over 62km/h with gust over 90km/h is equivalent to a Category 1 tropical cyclone. Winds of this strength can cause minor damage to property and can down trees.”

Winds of 104km/h were recorded at Albion Park at 10am, Nowra was hit by 100km/h winds while Bellambi Point recorded a gust of 98km/hr.

Mr Saunders said the gales are even stronger offshore and warned the swell will rapidly build along the NSW coast over the next 24 hours.

Swells of up to five and six metres are expected across the weekend.

Mr Saunders said the cold front meant it would be colder than normal across the whole of eastern Australia.

Sydney tomorrow can expect a top of 16C tomorrow which is 2C below the August average. It will be 18C on Sunday.

Melbourne can expect a top of 13C tomorrow, and 14C on Sunday.

Adelaide will have a high of a 15C on both days while Brisbane will see temperatures of 21C and 23C across Saturday and Sunday.

Sydney Airport has been hit by delays caused by wild weather with flights affected across the board. Picture: iStock
Sydney Airport has been hit by delays caused by wild weather with flights affected across the board. Picture: iStock

WILD WINDS SPARK DELAYS

The wild weather has already affected flights in and out of Sydney Airport.

An Air Services Australia spokeswoman told news.com.au that dozens of flights were cancelled this morning.

“We are advising passengers to check with their individual airlines for further details,” she said.

It is understood the delays and cancellations affect a number of airlines.

The airport will only operate on one runway due to the strong winds.

The wild winds aren’t only affecting Sydney, with the Bureau of Meteorology issuing a severe weather warning for damaging winds across NSW.

The BOM said winds averaging 60 to 70km/h with peak gusts in excess of 90km/h are likely over south eastern and central eastern parts of NSW.

This includes the Sydney Metropolitan Area, Blue Mountains, Illawarra, South Coast and southern ranges.

A Qantas spokeswoman told news.com.au a number of flights had been affected by the weather.

“Due to the single runway operation at Sydney Airport, Qantas has cancelled 12 services over the day and re-accommodated customers on the next available services,” she said.

Virgin Australia and Jetstar also confirmed flights in and out of Sydney have been affected.

The airlines urged those flying to check their individual websites for updated information.

“Virgin Australia advises all guests to check the Flight Status page for the most up to date information, ”a spokeswoman for the airline said.

Friday is one of the busiest travel days of the week with travellers already feeling the effects of the delays which are affecting flights in and out of Sydney.

Qantas and Virgin are among the airlines affected by the wild weather. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Bloomberg
Qantas and Virgin are among the airlines affected by the wild weather. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Bloomberg
More related stories

Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/lifestyle/travel/sydney-airport-flights-cancelled-delayed-as-damaging-winds-hit/news-story/b1d815400ae9347236495d750fe25e6b