A tornado has struck Ulladulla on the New South Wales south coast, damaging homes and businesses as severe weather swept across the region and triggered dozens of calls for help to the State Emergency Service.
Residents took cover as the twister moved through the coastal town. At the Native Cafe, staff hurried customers inside shortly before strong winds sent the outdoor umbrellas flying.
Witnesses reported seeing a funnel-shaped cloud form over Ulladulla as conditions rapidly worsened. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” one local said.
The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed the phenomenon was a tornado caused by a volatile low-pressure trough.
“Ulladulla has so far copped the worst of the weather with that tornado and the damage associated with that,” Bureau meteorologist Angus Hines said.
He said about 27 millimetres of rain had fallen in the area in a short period, alongside the damaging winds.
The weather front extended from Dubbo to Merimbula, bringing heavy rain and storms across a wide stretch of New South Wales. Hail was reported at Cobbity in Sydney’s south-west, while intense rain affected parts of the city’s north and west.
Lightning later illuminated the skies over Sydney as Ulladulla residents and emergency service crews began clearing up after the storm.
