The windstorm tore through the Batemans Bay area on Tuesday afternoon (11 November). Photos: NSW SES Batemans Bay Unit Facebook.
The South Coast is recovering after an afternoon of wild winds that left a roof torn off and trees resting on houses.
NSW SES Batemans Bay Unit Commander Kevin Shepherd said the “windstorm” was one of the region’s first major events for the 2025/26 storm season.
He told Region the “no notice event” started at about 2 pm on Tuesday (11 November).
“All the rest have been little jobs with one or two jobs, and that’s about it,” he said.
“This was the first one where we got smashed in a short amount of time. … It started off like a normal afternoon, and then within minutes it blew like a gale for probably half an hour.
“Then the blue sky came back out.”
Montague Island recorded the strongest winds – 89 km/h – and nearby Moruya saw 65 km/h gusts, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Further north, Ulladulla recorded 74 km/h blasts and Nowra, 85 km/h.
BoM senior meteorologist Jonathan How said “a bit of luck and chance” meant the storm could form as the system moved through the region.
“That brought a fairly gusty southerly wind change and we did see some thunderstorms developing over the coast.
“We did see some pretty hefty storms along the coast … We did see quite a bit of lightning activity with that thunderstorm before it pushed offshore.”
He also said there was limited rainfall, despite the strong winds.
During the storm, SES volunteers were called to 27 jobs – including a search for a man feared missing.
“One of the residents who called up a tree job couldn’t find her neighbour and feared that he was underneath the tree in his backyard … Thankfully, the neighbour was located in his house, safe and well,” Mr Shepherd said.
“He just didn’t hear the neighbour knocking!
“We had a roof ripped off a residence in Batehaven. … Most of them were trees over fences, trees onto roofs.”
Most jobs were wrapped up that evening or handed off to external agencies, with crews able to head home at about 9:30 pm.
Mr How said the storm, while unexpected, wasn’t unusual for spring.
“We are getting to a stormier season, but yesterday we did have quite a contrast in temperatures across southern NSW.
“When we do see a bigger temperature contrast, it can sometimes lead to stronger winds and stronger storms.
“It is very prone to seeing very strong winds, especially as you’ve got cold fronts moving through.”
Mr Shepherd also encouraged people to secure loose items on their properties, keep an eye on the forecast and call for help if needed.
The NSW State Emergency Service has the following advice for people during storms:
- Move your car under cover
- Keep clear of creeks and storm drains
- Don’t walk, ride your bike or drive through floodwater
- If you are trapped by flash flooding, seek refuge in the highest available place and ring triple zero if you need rescue
- Be aware that run-off from rainfall in fire-affected areas may behave differently and be more rapid. It may also contain debris such as ash, soil, trees and rocks
- After bushfires, heavy rain and the loss of foliage can make the ground soft and heavy, leading to a greater chance of landslides
- Unplug computers and appliances
- Avoid using the phone during the storm
- Stay indoors away from windows, and keep children and pets indoors as well
- Stay vigilant and monitor conditions. Note that the landscape may have changed following bushfires.
The BoM predicts daytime temperatures in the mid to high 20s for the region over the next few days, as well as a possible thunderstorm on Saturday (15 November).
The latest forecasts and warnings are available through the BoM’s website or the BOM Weather app. Alerts are also available on the Hazards Near Me app.
For emergency help in floods and storms, call the SES (NSW and ACT) on 132 500.
