Two injured after tree blown over in Sydney – as it happened

Two people have been injured after strong winds knocked over a tree blown in Sydney’s Hyde Park as wild weather lashed the city.

The tree came down at the park on Elizabeth Street and Market Street in Sydney’s CBD, near St James train station. Two people were being treated for minor injuries.

The intense winds have sparked emergency call-outs across the city and created wild scenes for the Manly Ferry, passengers clinging on as it battled huge waves.

The SES has been called 1572 times to the CBD alone due to damage, while hundreds more calls were made from Bankstown, Parramatta, Hornsby, Ku ring gai and Ryde, which were some of the worst affected.

In Rozelle, strong winds blew the roof off of a nearby shop and onto cars on Victoria Road. 

The road has now been closed as crews try to remove the debris. 

There have been 600 callouts in other suburban areas across Sydney. 

Earlier today ferries were cancelled and residents were warned to stay away from the sea as a low-pressure system lashes parts of NSW.

Huge swells are impacting most of the east coast including Manly, Coogee and Bondi beaches, with waves reaching a reported 4.9 metres in Sydney.

Ferries across Sydney have been cancelled due to unsafe conditions including the Manly, Mosman Bay, Blackwattle Bay and Taronga Zoo services.

The waves are expected to get even bigger throughout the day, the Bureau of Meteorology said.

“Strong south to southeasterly winds are likely to drive large, powerful southerly waves today and overnight tonight,” BoM said in a statement.

“Very heavy surf which may lead to localised damage and coastal erosion is likely about exposed coasts between Ulladulla and Smoky Cape today and tonight.

“Beach conditions in these areas could be dangerous and people should stay well away from the surf and surf-exposed areas.”

Damaging winds have already started hitting the state, stretching from Kempsey to Southern Sydney.

Wind gusts have already hit 72km/h in Newcastle at 10am, while Sydney airport and Kurnell were lashed with 91km/h winds at 9.50am.

At Wattamolla, in the Royal National Park, wind gusts hit a peak of 106km/h by 10am.

Severe thunderstorms are set to combine with a low-pressure weather system over the east coast and bring significant rain through to Sunday.

Residents should expect damaging winds to continue today, averaging 55km/h to 65 km/h, but they could possibly be up to 90km/h in exposed coastal areas.

Gusts are expected to increase during this morning, peaking in the afternoon, before they ease this evening.

Large parts of NSW can also expect a soaking today, with heavy rainfall and flash flooding forecast for the northern Hunter and Mid-North Coast, particularly in the afternoon and evening.

With Thanks and Reference to:https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/jan/17/australia-news-live-trains-sydney-antisemitic-attack-anthony-albanese-peter-dutton-election-campaign-cost-of-living-housing-energy-economy-climate-weather-ntwnfb and https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-weather-updates-nsw-and-queensland-on-alert-for-more-damaging-winds-heavy-rain/14561282-4880-4f47-81e0-bf355388b1fa