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A confirmed tornado struck Ulladulla on the NSW South Coast just after 1pm, damaging homes and downing trees as severe thunderstorms triggered more than 90 calls for assistance across the state.
A tornado has torn through parts of the New South Wales south coast, causing significant damage around Ulladulla. The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed a tornado moved through the area just after 1pm today, describing the event as very unusual.
The region had been issued a severe thunderstorm warning for damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall. Vision shows the rotating column of air making its way across a residential area. In other vision from outside a local cafe, staff can be seen scrambling to remove tables and chairs before heavy rain and strong winds sweep through violently, sending umbrellas flying.
Tornado Witnesses and SES Response
Ulladulla mother Wishaya La Spina was in her car with her baby when she saw the tornado blast past about 1pm. She said it was already storming, but nothing too severe, before the wind started to pick up and they spotted the little tornado. She whipped her phone out to film, feeling helpless and unsure if she should stay in the car or flee. She described the experience as pretty scary, saying her baby was crying.
I was trying to protect him because you never know when a tree could come falling, she said. She added that the wind just started to pick up and the next minute we spotted that little tornado. The NSW State Emergency Service said it had received more than 90 calls for assistance across the state, including 29 around Ulladulla. Across the state, the SES has recorded more than 80 incidents, most of which occurred in Ulladulla.
Crews are responding to roofs being ripped from homes, dislodged tiles and skylights, and fallen trees and powerlines. Dozens of properties have also been hit with power outages. An SES spokesperson said it has had multiple reports of roofs blown from homes, significant damage to properties, and trees down across roads. An SES incident management team has been set up in Ulladulla, with crews from nearby Nowra and surrounding areas responding.
Severe Weather Warning and Cleanup
Nowra has received close to 17 millimetres of rain since 9am. The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe thunderstorm and damaging wind gusts warning for central and south-eastern parts of the state, including Sydney, Wollongong, Katoomba, Penrith, Parramatta and Bowral. Thunderstorms likely to produce damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding were forecast to affect Wollongong, Campbelltown and Liverpool by 4.10pm and Sutherland, Sydney Airport, Richmond, Penrith and Sydney Olympic Park by 4.40pm.
The severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the region just after 1pm. The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed the tornado and described the event as very unusual. Residents in affected areas are being urged to stay safe as crews continue to respond to damage across the region. Power outages remain in place for dozens of properties as the clean-up continues.
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abcnews:This story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Tornado Severe Thunderstorms Ulladulla NSW South Coast Damaging Winds Ulladulla Tornado NSW Severe Thunderstorms SES Storm Damage Bureau Of Meteorology Warning South Coast Wild Weather South Coast Storm Damage NSW SES Response
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