Home / Environment / Lightning Strikes Swimmer as NSW Braces for Severe Storms
Lightning Strikes Swimmer as NSW Braces for Severe Storms
15 Nov
Summary
- A man in his 20s was struck by lightning while swimming at Ettalong beach.
- Severe thunderstorms forecast with hail over 5cm and winds over 120km/h.
- Volatile weather continues with storms predicted for NSW and Queensland.
Dangerous "supercell" thunderstorms capable of producing hail larger than 5cm and winds exceeding 120km/h were predicted for northeastern New South Wales on Sunday. These severe weather events are driven by a southerly change moving up the coast, creating volatile conditions.
Over the weekend, storms brought heavy rain and strong winds to NSW and Queensland. Tragically, a man in his 20s was struck by lightning while swimming at Ettalong beach on Saturday afternoon and remains in serious condition. Lightning can strike up to 30km from a storm's centre.
The volatile weather is expected to shift into Monday, affecting northern rivers in NSW and southeastern Queensland, including Brisbane and the Gold Coast. This is due to a trough combined with humid conditions and a potential low-pressure system off the NSW coast.
While Sydney and Brisbane anticipated storms on Sunday, they were expected to be less severe. Other Australian cities experienced varied weather, with Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide, Perth, and Darwin having forecasts ranging from showers to storms.
