Dangerous winds to wreak havoc across Sydney

Sydney will be hit with damaging winds today, with gusts up to 100 kilometres per hour already felt overnight.

The warning on damaging wind gusts comes as communities across northern New South Wales and Queensland grapple with their second flood cleanup in a month.

The NSW State Emergency Services had a busy night in Sydney responding to 183 jobs in the past 24 hours as wind and rain bore down.

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Gale force winds have been felt across Sydney; one building in Roseberry had its roof tore off. Several households had to be evacuated after a roof tore off a home in Roseberry, Sydney.

A three-storey building in Roseberry, south of the CBD, proved no match for the storm-force winds. It had a roof torn off in the early hours of today.

Trees have also been downed across the city and the NSW SES is preparing for a busy day ahead.

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Trees have also been downed in Roseberry, Sydney.

Speaking from Maroubra Beach this morning, 9News presenter Bianca Balzer said "at times the wind has been enough to pick me off my feet."

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has issued a marine wind warning for large swathes of the NSW coastline.

The winds are being caused by a low pressure system tracking south down the NSW coast.

A Storm Force Wind Warning has been issued for the Hunter Coast, Sydney Coast and Illawarra Coast.

It comes in addition to a gale warning for the following areas: Sydney Enclosed Waters, Coffs Coast, Macquarie Coast, Batemans Coast and Eden Coast.

Strong winds will also be felt across Byron, which was hit by extensive flash flooding earlier this week.

The wind is expected to weaken by this evening.

Hazardous surf will also be felt along the coastline from Byron down to Batemans Coast and Eden Coast, with waves up to 5 metres expected.

"NSW Police Force, Marine Area Command advise that people should consider staying out of the water and avoid walking near surf-exposed areas," BoM said.

As floodwaters recede another challenge emerges

While heavy rains have eased across northern New South Wales flood-affected residents are know grappling with their second cleanup in a month.

Some floodwaters in northern New South Wales are beginning to recede, allowing residents to return home to assess the scale of the disaster.

In Lismore a major flood peak of 11.40m was recorded around 5pm on Wednesday.

A man pushes water out of a flood-affected business on March 31, 2022 in Lismore, Australia.

Residents in low-lying areas of Mullumbimby, North Macksville, Kings Point, Nambucca Heads, Condong, Tumbulgum and Kyogle were permitted to return home on Thursday afternoon the NSW SES announced.

Shortly after the order was lifted, police announced they believe they've found the body of aged care nurse Anita Brakel, 55, in North Lismore days after she went missing in floodwaters.

Anita Brakel, 55, is an aged care nurse currently missing in Lismore floodwaters.

It is the third flood related fatality in this week's wet weather, after two men died in Queensland on Tuesday.

The Gold Coast saw 307.2mm of rain on Tuesday and a new threat is now emerging; waterlogged ground is giving way, with landslips occurring on roads on the Gold Coast and Byron Bay.

A section of Beechmont Road has been completely destroyed, falling down the mountain.A significant land slip closed a road near Byron Bay on March 30, 2022.

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