Sydney ferries are cancelled as monster swells smash boats and fierce 90km/h winds threaten to cancel flights - after heavy snow cuts off towns in the Blue Mountains
- Ferries between Sydney's Circular Quay and Manly have been cancelled
- Terrifying videos showed the boats being battered by huge swells on Tuesday
- Flights could be cancelled as fierce winds of up to 119km/h hit the city
- A blanket of snow has cut off towns in the Blue Mountains from reaching Sydney
Ferries between Sydney's CBD and Manly have been cancelled after boats were smashed by dangerous swells.
Terrifying videos taken on board ferries showed waves pummelling the boats, causing water to pour onto the deck as passengers sought refuge inside.
Sydney Ferries said it was too dangerous and buses would take over until conditions improved, but to expect delays.
The city is being battered by wild winds of up to 119km/h which are now threatening to cancel flights, with both Qantas and Virgin Australia warning passengers to keep an eye on the Sydney Airport website.
Ferries between Sydney's CBD and Manly have been cancelled after boats were smashed by dangerous swells
Terrifying video taken on board ferries by Mosman Collective showed waves pummelling the boats, causing water to pour onto the deck as passengers sought refuge inside
One Australian wasn't letting the snow get in the way of her suntan - as she stepped out in a bikini
Nippy! However she quickly gave up and ran back inside to shelter from the cold
The SES are also dealing with numerous callouts across the city with parts of roofs ripped from houses and trees falling across roads.
Massive waves more than 5m high put on spectacular sights along Sydney's beaches as locals watched on.
However, there were concerns that homes and surf clubs could be at risk of damage if the swell continued into the evening.
Meanwhile, towns in the Blue Mountains have been completely cut off from Sydney thanks to snow closing roads and causing chaos on the rails.
About 5cm of snow settled on Katoomba, Blackheath and surrounding areas as temperatures dipped to -8C on Tuesday morning.
The ice and snow forced the closure of the Great Western Highway in both directions at Katoomba, as well as at Mount Victoria and Blackheath.
There were two single-car crashes on the highway, one hitting a pole and the other a concrete barrier, but no one was seriously injured.
Snow was also recorded in the NSW Central Tablelands, including Oberon and Lithgow, as well as Armidale in the state's north.
The low-pressure system in NSW has driven the cold front up north, bringing flurries of snow to Queensland for the first time in four years.
Snow was also recorded in the NSW Central Tablelands, including Oberon and Lithgow, as well as Armidale in the state's north. Pictured above are snow-covered train tracks in Walcha, New South Wales
A snow-covered ute was snapped in Lithgow this morning
Oberon also received some light snow. A woman poses in Mayfield Garden, just north of the town, on Tuesday
Foliage in Bathurst, in the Central Tablelands in NSW froze over
Jack Frost also paid a visit to Goulburn in the Southern Tablelands, 195km south of Sydney
This house was covered with snow in Goulburn along with the car as winter began in earnest
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for residents across New South Wales including metropolitan Sydney, the South Coast and parts of the Mid North Coast, Illawarra, Central Tablelands and Southern Tablelands.
The region is expected to be hit with locally destructive winds, averaging 60 to 70km/h, with reports of 130km/h wind gusts in Ulladulla, 230km south of Sydney, this morning.
The wild weather is due to an intense low-pressure system and associated cold front coming from the Tasman Sea.
Strong winds will move through the Sydney region around sunrise and extend to te north by this afternoon.
The city's eastern suburbs are expected to see the strongest winds, while Sydney's west will experience lighter gusts.
Weatherzone has warned of reduced visibility and slippery roads as heavy rain is expected to batter the region.
The eastern suburbs are forecast to receive about 30 to 40mm of rain this morning. The South Coast town of Nowra received nearly 80mm of rain by 7am.
An adorable pup was virtually invisible after its fur blended in with the blanket of snow in Goulburn
The wintry weather has been brought on due to an intense low and associated cold front coming from the Tasman Sea
Images shared on social media show snow falling in in Lithgow, 140km west of Sydney, before sunrise on Tuesday
Meteorologists have also warned of dangerous surf conditions - particularly at south-facing beaches - with reports of significant wave heights in excess of five metres.
SES has issued road weather alerts warning commuters of dangers driving conditions this morning.
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NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy said roads will be slippery and visibility poor, and stressed the need for driver to go slow and follow directions.
'It's not just your life at risk - it's the lives of the emergency service workers, some of whom are volunteers,' he said in a statement.
Surf Life Saving New South Wales urged swimmers and surfers to stay away from the coastline over the next couple of days.
Snow day: Residents in the Blue Mountains woke up to a fresh blanket of snow (pictured in Blackheath) on Tuesday morning
Snow was also recorded in the Central Tablelands, including Oberon (pictured) and Lithgow, as well as Armidale in the state's north
Snow joke: Blackheath residents were forced to bundle up after they were visited by some wintry weather
Road signs in NSW were dusted with snow
Winter wonderland: A resident of Walcha, 410km north of Sydney, shared photos of a snowy field
Most of NSW and parts of Victoria and Queensland are expected to be drenched on Tuesday as a cold front continues to drift north from Tasmania
About five centimetres of snow settled on Katoomba, Blackheath and surrounding areas, as temperatures dipped to -8C. Pictured: Katoomba train station
'Tuesday winds and swell will be extremely hazardous and we advise that nobody goes to the beach along the entire NSW coast,' a spokesperson said.
SES crews are on standby across the state, particularly in alpine regions, as the combination of wind and snowfall is likely to lead to blizzard conditions.
The SES warned those driving in alpine areas to be aware of the conditions and make sure they are carrying tyre chains.
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