Severe Weather Closes Sydney and Port Botany
Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) Australia is advising that Sydney and Port Botany have been closed to all shipping movements since 22:00hrs yesterday evening until further notice, due to storm force winds and swell at the pilot boarding grounds.
A small intense low pressure system is currently located off the New South Wales coast near Sydney and the Hunter district and is moving slowly northwards with an associated trough.
Gale to storm force southerly winds and large seas are extending along the coast behind the trough.
The low and trough will move slowly further offshore during Wednesday with an associated gradual easing in the winds.
A high pressure system will move across southern New South Wales by Friday, bringing more stable conditions for the later part of the week.
Three-day weather forecast for Sydney coastal waters:
October 15, 2014
Storm Force Wind Warning: Winds Southwesterly 30 to 45 knots, reaching up to 50 knots offshore in the morning. Winds decreasing to 20 to 30 knots in the evening.
Seas: 4 to 6 metres, decreasing to 2.5 to 4 metres during the afternoon.
Swell: South to southeasterly 2 to 3 metres, increasing to 2.5 to 4 metres inshore.
Weather: Cloudy, 90% chance of showers. Showers heavy at times offshore early this morning.
October 16, 2014
Winds: Southwesterly 15 to 20 knots, reaching up to 25 knots offshore early in the morning.
Winds: tending westerly 10 to 15 knots early in the morning then becoming variable about 10 knots in the early afternoon.
Seas: 1.5 to 2.5 metres, decreasing below 1 metre during the morning.
Swell: Southerly 3 to 4 metres, decreasing to 2 to 3 metres during the morning.
Weather: Mostly sunny. 30% chance of a shower.
October 17, 2014
Winds: South to southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas Below 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the morning.
Swell: Southerly 1.5 to 2 metres.
Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers.
Please be aware that wind gusts can be 40 percent stronger than the averages given here, and maximum waves may be up to twice the height.
