Fog blanket clears to blue skies in Sydney after morning travel disruptions

Residents woke up to a haze of fog clouding the horizon with some commuters facing delays due to service disruptions.

A thick Sydney fog has stopped the ferries on the harbour. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Sydneysiders woke to heavy fog covering the city’s skyline with travellers planning to cross the harbour in a ferry forced to wait for it to clear.

A photograph from Nine’s rooftop camera showed the tips of the city’s skyscrapers poking out from beneath a thick blanket of fog on Saturday morning.

Sydney Ferries sent out a tweet advising passengers that multiple services due to depart before 8am were cancelled as a result of the fog, although they have since returned to regular scheduling.

Shot from Nine's rooftop camera shows a thick blanket of fog over Sydney skyline. Picture: Nine

Flight to Sydney…… 50 mins of holds over Sydney…. Extra joy flight down the coast… Landed in Canberra. Now back to Sydney! YAY FOG

Do I get extra frequent flyers for participating in an extra leg of my trip? 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/WlEVg5IQ7I

— Dimity Smith (@smithdimity) June 3, 2023

“Due to heavy fog, the 7:07am Circular Quay to Parramatta is terminating at Barangaroo & the 7:38am Parramatta to Circular Quay ferry will commence service from Sydney Olympic Park at 7:58am,” the tweet posted just after 7am said.

Minutes later, the transport service sent out an update that the “7:38am Sydney Olympic Park to Circular Quay service has been cancelled due to heavy fog”.

Travellers were advised to make alternative arrangements or allow plenty of extra travel time.

As of 10am, no further service cancellations have been announced and the service is running again to timetable.

A thick Sydney fog stopped the ferries on the harbour this morning. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

They appear to be running as normal again as of 10am. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

A ferry moves past the iconic Sydney Opera House. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

The travel disruptions were not just limited to the sea, with a passenger on a morning flight headed for Sydney reporting that the flight was forced to detour to Canberra.

“Flight to Sydney…… 50 mins of holds over Sydney…. Extra joy flight down the coast… Landed in Canberra. Now back to Sydney! YAY FOG,” the Qantas passenger tweeted at 10.15am.

Reduced visibility was reported on the roads with the Bureau of Meteorology issuing an alert at about 8am.

The warning was lifted at 10am as the fog lifted and made way for clear blue skies.

#RoadWeatherAlert issued for #Sydney. Expect reduced visibility in #fog through much of the region this morning. Details here: https://t.co/Mx5TmUa7Iypic.twitter.com/LyUmzHU10c

— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) June 2, 2023

Weekend sport was also impacted by the thick fog with local football and soccer clubs reporting that games were moving ahead despite the challenging conditions.

In the north west of the state, the much-anticipated Willow Tree Cup in the town of Quirindi was called off, with stewards deeming the track “unsafe” due to the wet weather.

The event at Quirindi Jockey Club was called off at 12pm, 30 minutes after it was set to begin.

Bit bleak out there - @paulwallbank still safe for play surely pic.twitter.com/pOk29X5nnj

— Tommy from Sydney (at bluesky dot social) (@ohnomovingon) June 2, 2023

If you're waking up and can't see anything, don't worry - it's not because you had a big Friday night.

This is the Sydney Harbour Bridge right now, with the city blanketed in fog.

And you can rest assured it’s still warmer than Melbourne. pic.twitter.com/CnLsPpxOGR

— Chris Minns (@ChrisMinnsMP) June 2, 2023

NSW

There is a high chance of showers are predicted to arrive on Sunday with a low of 14C.

VIC

A very high chance of showers was forecast for Melbourne on Saturday though it was expected to ease by early afternoon.

The temperature was not expected to exceed 16C in the capital city.

The rain should ease by Sunday, clearing the way for a party cloudy day with a top of 18C.

QLD

Showers were possible in Brisbane with a top of 25C on Saturday.

The rain is expected to intensify by Sunday with light winds of up to 25km/h through the morning. A low of 15C is forecast to round out the weekend.

WA

It’s looking to be a mostly sunny day for Perth residents with a high of 18C on Saturday.

However, a drenching is on the horizon with up to 15mm forecast to fall on Sunday.

A chance of a thunderstorm is likely near the coast and marks the start of a week-long run of rain ahead.

Significant rainfall is predicted to start the week in the western capital with up to 40mm expected to arrive on Tuesday.

SA

A party cloudy day is ahead for Adelaide residents with a top of 23C as the sun pokes out.

Showers are forecast to roll in on Sunday however, dropping the temperature to a low of 15C.

TAS

A maximum of 14C if expected in Hobart on Saturday. A slight chance of a shower is forecast for the morning and early afternoon with winds picking up to 30km/h.

Sunday morning will see temperatures plummet as low as 3C and patches of morning frost are possible.

ACT

The weekend will bring partly cloudy skies on both Saturday and Sunday.

Canberrans should soak up the clearer weather ahead of a week of rain forecast from Monday to Friday.

A high of 19C is forecast for Saturday.

NT

Darwin residents can enjoy a weekend of mostly sunny skies.

A high of 30C is expected on Saturday and a maximum temperature of 31C on Sunday.