Travelers at Sydney Airport encountered significant disruptions as severe weather conditions led to flight cancellations and delays, while thousands of homes and businesses were left without power.
The city was battered by a storm described as a once-in-a-50-year event, characterized by destructive winds that descended upon Sydney after a low-pressure system moved northward along the east coast on Saturday.
On Friday night, Sydney Airport announced that 50 flights already en route experienced landing delays, and another 40 flights scheduled for departure were canceled.
As the situation worsened, at least 50 domestic flights faced cancellations or delays up until 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, as reported by 9News.
Among the flights canceled on Saturday were two operated by Jetstar.
Services by Qantas and Virgin Australia were also affected by the severe weather and the airport’s temporary switch to single runway operations on Friday. Fortunately, normal operations resumed by Saturday morning.
‘Virgin Australia’s operations in Sydney are running as scheduled today,’ a spokesperson for the airline told the Daily Mail.
‘We continue to monitor operating conditions closely. We thank guests for their patience and encourage anyone travelling to check the status of their flight via our website or app prior to travel.’
Wild weather has battered the New South Wales coast on Friday and Saturday (pictured, a brave surfer at Wedding Cake Island off Coogee Beach)
People living across 800km of the New South Wales coast, from Seal Rocks south of Forster down to the Victorian border, were issued with a coastal hazard warning on Saturday morning
At least 50 domestic flights were then cancelled or on hold by 10.30am on Saturday (stock)
A Qantas spokesperson said more passengers were delivered by deploying bigger planes on Saturday, including an Airbus A330 for Melbourne and Sydney services.
Sydney Airport services had returned to normal by Saturday afternoon, and all runways were operational.
It comes as residents living across an 800km stretch of the New South Wales coast, from Seal Rocks south of Forster down to the Victorian border, were issued with a coastal hazard warning on Saturday morning.
Gale warnings by the Bureau of Meteorology also extended from Hunter Coast to the Eden Coast as of 2pm, encompassing Sydney.
‘Beach conditions in these areas could be dangerous and people should stay well away from the surf and surf-exposed areas,’ the Bureau said.
Waves up to 8metres on the Eden coast near the NSW-Victoria border were recorded at 1pm on Friday, and a 5.7metre wave in Sydney at 2am on Saturday.
Surf Life Saving chief executive Steven Pearce told 9News that the state would see ‘swells we haven’t seen in decades up and down the coastline’.
‘It really is going to be a hazardous and ferocious weekend for anyone going down near the coastline,’ he said.
A 5.7m wave was recorded in Sydney at 2am on Saturday (pictured, surfers are scattered at Wedding Cake Island on March 28)
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) responded to 591 incidents in the 24 hours to 2pm Friday, mostly in Dubbo and Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
Strong winds brought down trees and caused damage to homes and infrastructure.
In Dubbo, wind gusts reached up to 115 km/h, causing widespread damage across the town, including a crane collapse in the CBD at the height of the storm.
‘Even though the thunderstorms have passed, this system is now bringing a different set of risks with strong winds and dangerous surf expected right along the coast,’ NSW SES State Duty Commander Dean Storey said on Friday.
‘We’re asking people to stay indoors during strong winds, keep clear of trees and powerlines, and secure anything around their home that could become airborne.
‘If you’re near the coast, avoid boating, exposed beaches, rock platforms and ocean pools. Conditions like this mean no one should be in, on or around the open ocean.’
