THE snow will melt, the wind should settle but the Hunter is in for more rain and rough surf.
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Wild weather whipped the region yesterday, bringing snow to the Barrington Tops for the third time this year.
Up to 15centimetres fell across the Barrington Plateau, a spring surprise for Muswellbrook’s Tegan Cornish, who enjoyed her first encounter with snow.
She made the most of it, having a snow fight with partner Jack Halsted.
“Snow is a lot harder than I thought it would be,” she said.
Wendy Hughes, from the Gloucester Visitor Information Centre, said the snow was a surprise but she had seen snow as late as November.
At Nobbys, wind gusts of 74km/h were recorded, and trees were felled in Weston, West Wallsend and Maryland yesterday.
The trees blocked roads, fell on electrical wires and caused blackouts in up to 1500 Abermain and West Wallsend homes.
The wind caused major erosion at Jimmys beach in Hawks Nest, undermining the road.
Fisherman Andrew Sharp said it was the worst damage they’d seen.
All Newcastle beaches were closed yesterday due to the dangerously large swell, and Weather Watch meteorologist Don White advised against getting into the water until the weekend.
The story Newcastle weather: snow at Polblue in the Barrington Tops in September amid dangerous surf - photos first appeared on Newcastle Herald.
Newcastle weather: Grey skies, big seas, wind and more rain coming, photos
By MATT CARR and SAM RIGNEY Sept. 3, 2014, 9:30 a.m.
STRONG winds have brought down trees at Weston, West Wallsend and Maryland, with the Hunter’s State Emergency Service crews kept busy due to strong winds.
An SES spokeswoman said a tree had come down on power lines at Weston on Wednesday morning and was causing live wire arching above a vehicle. The situation has since been rectified.
An Ausgrid spokesman said emergency crews were working to restore power to 1500 homes in Abermain and Weston.
The SES have been tasked on more than a dozen jobs since Tuesday night, including fallen trees that had blocked roads at Maryland and West Wallsend.
Severe weather is predicted to hit the Hunter hard into Wednesday.
Coastal areas between Port Stephens and Seal Rocks are expected to be "particularly exposed" to dangerous surf on Wednesday.
The forecast has prompted every Newcastle beach to close for 24 hours, including Newcastle Ocean Baths.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning as a deep low-pressure system in the Tasman sea butts up against a high to the west.
The result in the Hunter is strong winds whipping across the region driving large, damaging seas.
Erosion and damage to coastal banks is forecast for the Hunter during Wednesday.
Howling winds with gusts up to 100km/hr are also forecast in the morning.
An updated warning is scheduled for 11am, the Bureau advises.
The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
- Move vehicles under cover or away from trees.
- Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.
- Keep clear of fallen power lines.
For emergency help in floods and storms, ring your local SES Unit on 132 500.
This story first appeared on Newcastle Herald.
Lifesavers urge caution near ocean
By LILY RAY
THE ocean is a notoriously dangerous body of water, but it’s going to be scarier than usual today and tomorrow with a southerly swell of up to five metres coming to Newcastle beaches.
Surf Life Saving NSW manager Andy Kent has pleaded with beach-goers to ‘‘heed warnings and assess the conditions’’ before venturing into the water to fish, surf, swim or boat this week.
Don White, Weatherwatch meteorologist, said Monday’s swell was tame compared to what Novocastrians should expect in the coming days.
He said it would get wilder this evening with more wind and rain along the coast.
Mr White said Wednesday’s swell would be between three and five metres with confusion in the tides with last week’s easterly swell still dying down and running into this week’s southerly.
While Surf Life Saving NSW warned swimmers to stick to patrolled beaches between the flags, Mr White said it would be best not to go in at all, and that it would be dangerous for swimmers and surfers alike.
He said the wind would be strong and gusty today, at up to 90km/h.
This story first appeared on Newcastle Herald.