Freak storm smashes New South Wales Central Coast, tearing roofs from homes
Roofs have been torn from buildings, tress and power lines brought down, and power cut off to properties after a sudden summer storm.
At least nine properties have been damaged in a sudden storm that’s lashed the New South Wales Central Coast.
The powerful storm cell swept over the Long Jetty and Toowoon Bay areas late on Saturday afternoon, with strong winds ripping the roofs off of buildings.
Locals have taken to social media to share video and images of the destruction, with roofs torn from properties, trees brought down, and power lines damaged.
In one of the most serious incidents, the roof of Long Jetty Automotive Engineering, on the corner of Minto Ave and Central Coast Hwy, was completely blown off the building, the force of which also brought down some walls.
The roof blew on top of a neighbouring home, trapping at least one person inside for some time.
In another incident, a shed was blown away, and was stopped when it wrapped itself around a power pole.
Ausgrid reports more than 3000 properties are affected by power outages in the Long Jetty area, with restoration time predicted to be between four and eight hours.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s Gabrielle Woodhouse said there had been some thunderstorm activity moving about the Central Coast region throughout the day.
“This storm in particular was caused by some humid and unstable air mass, bringing that destruction to places like Long Jetty,” she said.
“We’re anticipating some showers or another thunderstorm out to the west (on Sunday) but we will see some slightly cooler conditions at least.”
More Coverage
Locals have taken to the Long Jetty Community Facebook page as they assess the damage.
“Looks like a tornado went through,” said one user.
“It was crazy and thought our windows were going to blow in and some of the fence has fallen too,” said another.
Teen stabbed at busy shopping centre
A teenager has been hospitalised after being slashed with a knife multiple times at a busy Westfield shopping centre.
‘Extreme’: Shock declaration for Sydney
A total fire ban will be enforced in Sydney and other parts of NSW on Friday with temperatures expected to top 40C during the hottest day of summer yet.
Messages that sparked drill rap killing
A social media beef between two rival western Sydney drill rap groups has been revealed as the catalyst behind a wild brawl that ended in a 19-year-old being stabbed to death.