Millions lashed by ‘damaging’ winds

Wild weather sweeping across southeast Australia has triggered warnings for millions of residents, with a woman losing her life after a tree branch fell on her.

Damaging wind warnings were still in place up and down the NSW coastline on Sunday afternoon, with even more wild weather on the way.

The Bureau of Meteorology forecast peak wind gusts of up to 90km to continue along coastal areas, between Forster and Kiama.

The large swath of affected coastline includes the large metropolitan centres of Sydney, Newcastle, and Wollongong.

In Sydney, runners fought against heavy winds during the TCS Sydney Marathon on Sunday morning.

Runners described the run online as “not a joke … with strong winds”, with others stating that the winds were “hectic”.

The Bureau recorded wind gusts of up to 98km shortly before 3pm at Wattamolla, at Sydney’s Royal National Park.

Peak wind gusts of 91km were also recorded at Newcastle Nobbys Signal Station and sustained winds of 69km at North Head.

It comes after a woman was woman has been killed after a tree branch fell on her at a street in Sydney’s southwest.

Emergency services were called to Castlereigh St in Liverpool about 1pm on Sunday following reports a tree branch had fallen on a woman.

NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the woman – believed to be aged in her 60s – at the scene, but she could not be revived.

Officers attached to Liverpool City Police Area Command attended the scene and have commenced inquiries.

The woman has not been formally identified, with a report to be prepared for the coroner.

It comes after the Bureau of Meteorology issued a damaging wind warning for swathes of coastal NSW, from Narooma on the south coast to as far north as Foster.

The Bureau said winds averaging between 60-70km with peak gusts of up 100km were expected for the millions of residents across those regions.

As of 10.30am, sustained winds of 69km were reported at Wattamolla with a peak gust recorded at 91km.

A marine wind warning was also in place for the East Gippsland coast in Victoria, with gale force winds being forecast.

Strong winds were also expected along the central coast, with the far west and upper west coasts of South Australia were also impacted.

Gale force winds were being forecast for much of Tasmania’s coastline; strong wind warnings were also in place for the southeast Queensland coast.