‘Tornado’ is seen off Sydney as dangerous storm smashes Australia’s east coast with flooding, hail

Australia’s east coast has been hit with a barrage of wild weather as a ‘tornado’ is caught off Sydney.

The unusual weather phenomenon was spotted at Dee Why on Sydney’s northern beaches on Tuesday night, with locals posting videos and images of the massive waterspout looming over the ocean just a short distance from land.

A shocked resident who posted a photo of the storm said: ‘Bro, there’s a tornado off the coast of my house. What the hell?

The Met Office said wild storms will affect Sydney, the New South Wales central coast, the central foothills and the northern tablelands from Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday.

Sydneysiders have been told to expect heavy rain, flash flooding, damaging winds and large hail.

The Met Office said wild storms will affect Sydney, the New South Wales central coast, the central foothills and the northern tablelands from Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday.

The Met Office warned that from 8:10 pm severe storms will hit the suburbs of Mona Vale and Terrey Hills.

They said the storm system is moving slowly and flash flooding across Sydney is “probable”.

The Bureau issued an advisory saying: “Severe storms are likely to deliver heavy rainfall that can lead to flash flooding, large hail and damaging winds in the warning area over the next few hours.”

Locations placed on red alert include Sydney, Coonamble, Nyngan, Woy Woy, Narromine and Gilgandra.

The Bureau issued an advisory saying, “Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that can cause flash flooding, large hail, and damaging winds in the warning area over the next several hours.”

The Bureau issued a severe weather warning that includes flooding, damaging winds and hail for isolated areas.

Weatherzone forecaster Joel Pippard said the East Coast should expect a shift to the south as a potentially dangerous weather system moves toward the coast on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“This system is expected to bring moderate to occasionally heavy rain and a few thunderstorms to the Sydney, Hunter and Mid North Coast areas, likely taking advantage of additional moisture around the East Australian Current (EAC),” it said.

‘The EAC is helped by this summer’s La Niña and persistent easterly winds. It is flowing directly towards the coast, causing the waters to be between 1.5 and 3.0 °C higher than normal.

The system should reach Brisbane later in the week and bring heavy showers before moving away from the coast.

Sky Weather’s Rob Sharpe said the fresh change heading for Australia’s east coast was coming in the form of a ‘destroyer from the south’.

“Sydney, Central Coast, Wollongong have a chance to see storms and they could be severe,” he said.

The stormy wet change will move up the coast to southern Queensland on Thursday.

A band of clouds stretches across the East Australian Current contributing to the wet weather system

Melbourne looks set to avoid the system and will be in for a sunny week with the city feeling some effects of the SA heatwave by Friday hitting 35C.

Meanwhile, South Australia is bracing for its longest burst of extreme heat in more than three years.

Temperatures across South Australia are expected to rise to the mid-40s in some regional centers with the state government issuing a “code red” in preparation for the heatwave.

A Code Red is issued when extreme weather conditions are looming and is intended to reduce the harmful effects on people sleeping outdoors.

The four-day Code Red will begin at 1 p.m. Wednesday and end Saturday morning and was put in place to remind people to check on their neighbors.

Those sleeping rough will also have access to emergency shelter in the state.

In Adelaide, the mercury is expected to reach 40°C on both Thursday and Friday, before a milder change.

But temperatures will rise in many regional centers with Nullarbor, in the west of the state, to be 45C on both Wednesday and Thursday.

Chief Meteorologist Simon Timcke of the Met Office said that after a couple of milder summers, South Australia was set for its longest streak of very hot days since December 2019.

At that time, Adelaide had four days above 35°C in the middle of the month and then six days above 35°C at the end of the month.

“We have a large mass of very hot air over the northwestern and central part of the continent,” Timcke said.

‘We had a burst of hot weather last week, but a change pushed that hot air towards the far north of SA.

“But once the high pressure system currently south of the inlet moves east of Tassie, that will shift the winds to the north and pull all that warm air into the southern parts of the state.”

Conditions will also elevate the risk of wildfires, with Friday shaping up to be the worst day with winds picking up as the change progresses.

Timcke said the timing of the cooler change was not yet clear.

The forecast has prompted SA Health to urge everyone to take steps to stay cool indoors and avoid outdoor activities if possible, especially in the hottest part of the day.

SA Health said early signs of heat-related dehydration and illness include heavy sweating, increased body temperature, feeling dizzy or faint, fatigue, reduced appetite and increased thirst.

A more serious condition, heat stroke, was also possible and required urgent medical attention.

Signs of heat stroke included dry and swollen tongue, sudden increase in body temperature to more than 40°C, disorientation or delirium, seizures, and rapid pulse.

“Heat affects everyone, but certain groups, such as infants and young children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with chronic illnesses, are more at risk than others,” said Nicola Spurrier, SA’s director of public health.

“And it’s important to check on loved ones during hot weather, especially if they live alone.”