Sydney is preparing for its turn of wild weather as a superstorm continues to move north, bringing walls of heavy rain and dangerous surf conditions for a large part of the New South Wales coast over the weekend.
Following a heatwave that gripped Sydney last weekend, the city is now bracing for its wettest weekend this summer, with up to 20mm of rainfall possible on both Saturday and Sunday.
Parts of Sydney and Wollongong have already been battered by heavy rain this morning.
People are being urged to stay out of the water over the weekend after a hazardous surf warning was issued for large parts of the NSW coast yesterday.
READ MORE: Dangerous surf conditions forecast as NSW braces for weekend drenching
The Bureau of Meteorology warned that surf and swell conditions are expected to be a hazard for coastal activities, including rock fishing, boating, and swimming
The warning has been issued for the Sydney coast, Illawarra Coast, Batemans Coast, and Eden Coast.
NSW SES Operational Media Manager Andrew Edmunds told Today that severe weather will extend from Moruya to Sydney, with damaging thunderstorms expected to develop on the mid-north coast and northern rivers later in the day.
"We've seen some flash flooding in the Illawarra with two flood rescues this morning, one at Albion Park and one on Picton Road.
"We could see some giant hail, destructive winds and intense heavy rainfall.
"But the SES is well prepared. We've got more than 450 volunteers out in the field.
"They've been responding to around 600 incidents since this weather started," Edmunds said.
"People should consider staying out of the water and avoid walking near surf-exposed areas," the NSW Police Force's Marine Area Command said.
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Rockfishers are also being advised to avoid coastal platforms by the ocean and to find a safe spot that is sheltered from the dangerous surf conditions.
The weather comes as large parts of Victoria were faced with devastating flash flooding that has left hundreds of people displaced, and large stretches of the Great Ocean Road remain closed.
More to come.