Homes lost roofs, cafe furniture was blown down the street, and dozens of emergency calls flooded dispatchers as a rare tornado struck Ulladulla on the New South Wales south coast on October 3, 2026. Driven by a volatile low-pressure trough, the rotating column of air touched down just after 1 p.m., bringing an unaccustomed shock to the region as severe thunderstorms swept across the state.
Funnel Cloud and Sudden Chaos on the South Coast
The severe weather system arrived on the afternoon of October 3. It brought damaging winds, large hailstones, and heavy rainfall.
Nine.com.au reported that wind gusts reached 100 km/h in Ulladulla. The force swept outdoor cafe tables and chairs down the street. Meanwhile, footage shared on social media tracked the funnel-shaped cloud moving through built-up residential areas.
Local resident Wishaya La Spina was caught directly in the path. She told The Sydney Morning Herald that she was in her car with her baby when the tornado blasted past.
"It was already storming, but nothing too severe. Then the wind just started to pick up and the next minute we spotted that little tornado," she said. La Spina captured the event on her phone while trying to protect her crying child from potential falling trees and debris.
Emergency Crews Mobilize Against Structural Damage
The NSW State Emergency Service received more than 90 calls for assistance across the state. At least 25 to 29 of those were concentrated around Ulladulla.
Crews responded to properties suffering from ripped-off roofs, dislodged tiles, skylights smashed by debris, and downed trees blocking local roads. An incident management team was established in Ulladulla to coordinate incoming crews from neighboring areas, including Nowra, which recorded nearly 17 millimeters of rain by 9 a.m. Power outages affected dozens of properties in the immediate impact zone.
Intense Front Tracks North Toward Sydney
As the severe weather front pushed north, it brought intense downpours and lightning to Sydney and surrounding suburbs during the afternoon hours. Sydney gauges registered more than 20 millimeters of rain in under 40 minutes, causing temperatures to plummet from 21°C earlier in the day to 15°C.
Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Angus Hines noted that Ulladulla experienced the worst of the tornadic activity. The town endured a sharp rainfall burst of approximately 27 millimeters in a short timeframe.
Severe thunderstorm warnings were subsequently issued for Wollongong, Campbelltown, Liverpool, Sutherland, and Sydney Olympic Park. Officials canceled the warnings later in the evening as conditions cleared for the long weekend.
Key Facts From the Ulladulla Severe Weather Event
What time did the tornado hit Ulladulla? The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed that the tornado struck the New South Wales south coast town at approximately 1 p.m. on October 3, 2026.
How many calls for help did emergency services receive? The NSW State Emergency Service recorded close to 100 calls for assistance across the state, with at least 25 coming directly from Ulladulla for damaged roofs and fallen power lines.
Did the storm system affect Sydney after hitting the south coast? Yes, the same weather system reached Sydney by Saturday afternoon, dropping more than 20 millimeters of rain in under 40 minutes and lowering temperatures from 21°C to 15°C.
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