'Quite calm': Lord Howe Island residents await Uesi's arrival
Residents of Lord Howe Island were "quite calm" as they prepared for the arrival of Cyclone Uesi on Thursday afternoon.
"We’ve had cyclones pass through before and so most are feeling confident in making preparations," said lifelong resident Lea Ohlback. "Locals are currently securing their boats in the lagoon and along the foreshore."
Ned's Beach on the north-east coast of Lord Howe Island on Thursday Morning. Credit:Lea Ohlback
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned of "destructive" winds and flash flooding on the island as the Category 2 tropical cyclone moves south.
It was producing wind gusts of up to 130km/h on Thursday morning, although it is expected to become an ex-tropical cyclone before it hits the island.
"The track is going straight over the top of Lord Howe Island and we expect the impact to be similar to a Category 2 system," bureau meteorologist Mike Funnell said at a press conference on Thursday morning.
Lord Howe Island, located 586 kilometres east of Port Macquarie, is home to roughly 400 people. There is also an estimated 400 tourists on the island.
The island's school has been shut for the rest of the week, although some businesses, including the liquor store at which Ms Ohlback works, remain open.
"We're expecting a busy day today," she said.
Ms Ohlback said the biggest concern for most residents – who do not have phone reception and rely on the internet for communication – is the power going out, although this was "not an uncommon thing, even in perfect weather".
"The weather right now is not too bad at all," she said. "I've been out and about and have seen tourists still riding around."
It is expected the island will experience rainfall of up to 150 millimetres in a 24-hour period, with average wave heights reaching seven metres.
"Peak height would be double that," Mr Funnell said.
Mr Funnell said the community had been briefed and were in a "good position".
Andrew Crib, director of operations at Marine Rescue New South Wales, urged people across the state to "remain vigilant" on the water this weekend.
"We have been recovering boats all week and assisting boats that are damaged," he said, advising people to rethink trips on the water and operate boats at a safe speed.
Although there will be lower tides along the NSW coast, the bureau warned the compromised coastline from last weekend's high waves would bring damaging conditions on the north coast on Friday, moving down to the Central Coast on Saturday morning.
Some homes and businesses on the Central Coast and in Sydney's north shore and northern suburbs were still without power on Thursday, following the weekend's wild weather which saw the city's highest rainfall in 20 years.
Crews from Energy Queensland were assisting Ausgrid in their repairs, as they attempted to restore power to 22,000 customers, some of whom have not had power since Saturday.
"With extra resources we're aiming to have all customers back by the end of Sunday," Ausgrid said on Thursday morning.