Heavy rain, gale-force winds, heavy snow cut off Blue Mountains, force ferry closures

The wild weather brought the east coast to its knees today, forcing ferries to be cancelled and trains to be delayed. Commuters have been warned.

Commuters trying to get out of Sydney tonight are being encouraged to leave extra time to get home after wild weather brought the east coast to its knees.

Ferries across Sydney Harbour were cancelled for more than six hours, strong winds dragged trees onto busy city roads and trains were delayed this morning.

The east coast of New South Wales and Sydney was smashed by huge winds and heavy rain for most of today.

A tree fell across Forest Rd in Miranda in wild and windy conditions today. Picture: NSW SES

Earlier, at least five yachts have been ripped from their moorings and smashed onto a beach at Manly, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, as huge swells contine to hit the coast.

Many property developer Greg Chaimandos was watching owners and locals frantically try and rescue the rest of the boats before the swells pushed them onto the sand at Little Manly Beach.

One of the yachts that washed onto Little Manly. Picture: Jim O'Rourke.

The yachts were smashed onto the sand. Picture: Greg Chaimandos

“Five yachts have blown onto Little Manly Beach. They’ve been ripped off their moorings and it looks like a few more are ready to go,” Mr Chaimandos told news.com.au.

“They’re about to get blown onto the wharf. Some of the yachts are damaged and they’re trying to save another two near the pool. The SES van is here and people are in the water trying to drag the moorings away from the beach. There’s really strong winds.”

The boats were ripped from their moorings. Picture: Jim O'Rourke.

Mr Chaimandos was watching on from the beach’s boat ramp and said some owners had rushed down to the bay speechless at what they were witnessing.

“They’re just trying to rescue them. Some owners or other people are trying to rescue them, putting ropes down and anchors and doing anything they can to try and stop it,” he said.

“These aren’t little boats, most of them are at least 25 to 30 feet yachts on the beach. I don’t think they’re going to last. I’m pretty confident there will be more being beached.

“The owners are just sitting there, they have nothing else to say, they’re just in shock. I mean they’re pretty helpless, they can’t do anything.”

Pictures from The Manly Dailyshowed some of the yachts lying damaged on the sand.

Boats wash onto the sand at Little Manly. Picture: Jim O'Rourke.

One of the boats. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

At Bondi Beach, heavy swells are slamming into the sand and conditions in Sydney Harbour are so bad that ferry services had to be cancelled.

Footage from aboard one Manly ferry shows why the call was made to halt services. It shows the iconic vessel riding over the crest of a large wave and crashing down again, sending water splashing over the bow.

Wild old ride on the Manly ferry today...nothing like it! Big waves and big fun. @7newsSydney #Sydneyweather #ManlyFerry pic.twitter.com/hG9If5Sf0X

— Jonathon Hall (@jon_hall79) June 4, 2019

A second video from another angle shows water pouring over the side.

Incredible footage of the dangerous swell in Sydney Harbour today. Ferry services have been cancelled between Manly and Circular Quay. Stay safe! More info: https://t.co/tvfAe37VsQ pic.twitter.com/VLYbEsnz3p

— news.com.au (@newscomauHQ) June 4, 2019

Sydney Ferries issued a statement shortly before midday informing commuters it was simply too dangerous.

“Sydney Ferries are not running between Manly and Circular Quay due to the large swell,” they said.

“Delay your trip if you can or allow plenty of extra time.”

The wet weather is expected to continue throughout the afternoon and worsen as commuters prepare for the trip home.

Conditions on the water south of Sydney are no better. At Warilla Beach, south of Wollongong, a large scale rescue was underway for a missing surfer.

But police said witnesses had made a mistake and they were confident the surfer left the water safely.

A huge wave crashes into the Manly ferry.

BLUE MOUNTAINS CUT OFF FROM SYDNEY

Residents of the Blue Mountains were this morning left isolated as heavy snow blanketed the region 62km west of Sydney.

Authorities warned commuters that roads have been closed and that the commute to Sydney was not possible.

More than 5cm of snow fell on a number of suburbs, including Blackheath, Katoomba and Mount Victoria as locals woke to frosty -8C conditions.

It covered rooftops and cars but it was the thick layer of snow and ice on the roads that was the problem.

Those who did attempt the 62km drive were met by a number of traffic incidents that closed the Great Western Highway at Katoomba and Mount Victoria. In one of those incidents, a B-Double truck jack-knifed.

The alternative route through — Bells Line of Road — was also closed at Clarence due to an incident there, but roads have started to reopen with motorists urged to drive slowly.

Katoomba train station blanketed in snow.

Blackheath was -8C this morning. Picture: TNV

This is becoming epic. Snow all over roads now. Not a heavy settling yet but if we are able to just keep it cold enough under this convective activity, we could see roads being closed above 1000M in the BMs before sunrise. IF the rain doesn't wash it away soon.

— Blackheath Weather (@BlackheathWx) June 3, 2019

Snow!! Magic Hour in Blackheath. Woke up to this special visitor! ❄️❄️❄️ #Blackheath #Blue mountains #snow ❄️ pic.twitter.com/V9i7wswugM

— Josephine Pennicott (@talepeddlerJo) June 3, 2019

The Blackheath Weather account on Twitter wrote that it was snowing at 4am: “This is becoming epic. Snow all over roads now.”

It’s also bad news for commuters travelling on the Blue Mountains Line where delays are ongoing.

Sydney Trains has also issued a statement urging commuters to allow additional travel time. They said wet weather conditions at various locations are making the process more arduous and slowing boarding times.

It’s a battle of the brollies outside. Picture: Tim Hunter

Delays are also expected at Sydney Airport. Virgin Australia warned those travelling to expect the wild weather to impact their plans.

It comes as gale-force winds, heavy rain, roads “covered in grime” after weeks without rain and the risk of flash flooding forced NSW Police to issue a statewide alert this morning.

Traffic and Highway Patrol Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy said conditions were “unpredictable”.

“There are several parts to these warnings, some or all of which may come into play in the coming days,” Assistant Commissioner Corboy said.

“Firstly, it hasn’t rained for some time so the roads will be covered in grime which will become slippery to drivers as well as bicyclists and pedestrians.

“Later as the rain continues, we will see water running over the road and pools of water forming. Drivers can easily lose control.”

Large swell at Maroubra beach this morning. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

Ben Buckler Point, North Bondi. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

He said flash flooding is a legitimate concern today and drivers should not attempt to enter floodwaters.

“Days of rain can often result in road closures. When that happens, people may be tempted to ignore road closed signs and drive through flood waters.

“It’s not just your life at risk — it’s the lives of the emergency service workers some of whom are volunteers.”

A car is covered in snow at Blackheath, where authorities have warned drivers not to attempt to trip to Sydney. Picture: TNV

When all you want to do is jump in the car and chase the snow! 🚗🤠📹❄️ I'm having severe SNOW FOMO.
These snaps from Ben Lomond, south of hometown Glen Innes, in northern NSW. 📸: Leigh and Jeannette Bush.@abcnews @BreakfastNews @ABCRural @ABCemergency #snow #weather pic.twitter.com/AuFcAfq7AL

— Kim Honan (@kimhonan) June 3, 2019

TRUCK BURSTS INTO FLAMES IN WET WEATHER

South of Sydney, a major incident closed the Hume Highway.

Incredible pictures emerged before sunrise of a Woolworths delivery truck burning out of control.

The inferno on the Hume Highway near Campbelltown in Sydney’s southwest started just before 4am. Fire and rescue crews arrived at the scene to find the truck and its rear trailer fully alight.

Authorities said the driver, thinking quickly, had “unhooked the trailer” and saved the prime mover. Nobody was injured and it is unclear what started the fire.

Firefighters used foam to extinguish the blaze, which was still burning shortly before 6am.

The incident delayed traffic on the road into Sydney where motorists have already been warned of dangerous driving conditions.

The severe weather warnings stem from an intense Tasman low that swept across Victoria yesterday and is hitting the east coast of New South Wales with force this morning.

The fire took longer than an hour to put out.

A Wooworths truck burned on a major motorway into Sydney this morning.

The Bureau of Meteorology is warning of damaging winds with gusts of up to 90km/h are impacting the South Coast of NSW.

The bureau said a 130km/h wind gust had been recorded at Ulladulla this morning with winds set to increase in the coming hours for eastern parts of Sydney.

Authorities have urged rock fishermen and surfers to avoid the water today — particularly this afternoon — as conditions deteriorate and large swells slam into the coast.

As that happens, temperatures are going to drop further from an already unpleasant 8C in Sydney — but the apparent temperature at 4.30am was -0.2C.

Queenslanders got a rare dusting of snow this morning too. It snowed in Stanthorpe, on the Queensland side of the border with NSW as temperatures plummeted.

It was -5C in Toowoomba and -4.4C in Applethorpe before 6am.

It hasn’t snowed in the Sunshine State since 2015.

How’s the weather where you are? Let me know on Twitter @ro_smith or email [e-mail]