One Person Killed as Strong Winds Slam Australia’s East Coast

The destructive winds wreaking havoc along Australia’s east coast have resulted in one casualty and left thousands without power.

Tragedy struck when a 63-year-old woman was killed by a tree that hit a cabin in a holiday park in Moama, near the NSW-Victorian border on Sunday night. Her identity is yet to be confirmed.

A potent cold front is sweeping across the nation, bringing some of the most severe weather conditions of the year, with winds comparable to those of a category two or three cyclone.

The Bureau of Meteorology and emergency services are cautioning residents of more extreme weather ahead and advising against unnecessary travel.

Wind speeds have already reached 146 km/h at Wilsons Promontory National Park, 133 km/h at Mount Jellibrand, and 131 km/h at Falls Creek, all in Victoria. Suburbs across Melbourne also experienced gusts exceeding 100 km/h.

Approximately 140,000 properties are without power in Victoria’s east, Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula, and the state’s southwest.

Debris has also affected train lines, causing significant delays in Victoria’s public transport infrastructure.

NSW Braces for Stronger Winds

Chief meteorologist Christie Johnson has alerted that NSW is already experiencing extreme weather conditions, with the worst winds yet to come, potentially reaching 120 km/h by Monday afternoon.

“The most potent winds for NSW are expected this morning, with damaging wind potential from the Victorian border through the Hunter district, including the south coast, Illawarra, Sydney Metro, and surrounding ranges,” she stated.

Authorities in NSW mentioned that a report will be prepared for the coroner following the tragedy in Moama. The woman’s body was found amidst the cabin wreckage, while a 63-year-old man sustained minor injuries.

Tasmania Faces Severe Weather

Tasmania encountered a powerful weather front over the weekend, resulting in substantial damage to trees, structures, power lines, and overall infrastructure. Peak overnight wind gusts hit 157 km/h at King Island Airport and 130 km/h at Launceston Airport.

Emergency services in the state received 347 calls for assistance on Sunday.

A flood emergency alert was issued for residents near the Derwent River, with warnings of exceeding major flood levels along the River Derwent early Monday.

Residents residing in southeast Tasmanian locations including Meadowbank, Glenora, Bushy Park, Gretna, and Macquarie Plains were advised to implement flood emergency plans and secure their properties.

TasNetworks noted over 150 outages late Sunday, affecting around 10,000 customers.

Alert for Victoria’s Surf Conditions

The Victorian coast and Port Phillip are forecasted to experience higher tides, potentially inundating low-lying areas.

A Watch and Act alert remains in place for the northeast ranges of Victoria, cautioning about dangerous surf conditions and storm surges along the southwest coast.

Victoria’s SES chief officer, Tim Wiebusch, noted that winds of this strength occur only every few years.

On Friday, Sydney recorded its hottest August day since 1995, with temperatures surpassing 30 degrees Celsius (86F).