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The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed a tornado moved through Ulladulla on the New South Wales south coast on October 3 2026 and described the event as very unusual. According to ABC News the twister caused significant damage in the area as the NSW State Emergency Service responded to reports of fallen roofs tiles and trees. A local cafe owner described the incident as terrible saying the sky darkened before a strong wind swept everything away.
The NSW State Emergency Service fielded more than 400 calls for help across the state over the past 24 hours as part of the broader storm system that included the Ulladulla tornado. No injuries were reported from the event in the coastal town. The service continues to assist residents with debris removal and structural issues stemming from the severe weather.
Video footage from the scene distributed by the BBC and The Guardian showed high winds sweeping tables and chairs away outside a cafe in Ulladulla. Security camera recordings captured the moment the tornado tore through the establishment whipping outdoor furniture off a balcony. Residents shared additional images of the tornado as it moved through the town on Saturday afternoon.
Bureau of Meteorology figures show that Australia experiences about 50 tornadoes each year although the exact number is not known because many occur in remote regions. Historical records indicate between 30 and 80 tornadoes annually according to the Bureau of Meteorology. The weather agency notes that tornadoes are most common in central and eastern parts of New South Wales among other areas and are more likely during late spring and early summer.
This latest event formed part of severe weather that prompted the Bureau of Meteorology to issue a flood watch for most of Victoria including the north-east central south-west and north-west regions as well as parts of Gippsland. The warnings included heavy rain accompanied by potentially damaging winds and thunderstorms in parts of New South Wales. The State Emergency Service has reminded communities to exercise caution around fallen trees and damaged buildings following such incidents.
In a similar tornado outbreak in September 2025 twisters struck properties in central west New South Wales where a farmer made a lucky escape after roofs were torn off houses and crops and fencing suffered heavy damage according to ABC News. The Bureau of Meteorology has stated there is no such thing as a mini-tornado and that all such events are to be treated with the same seriousness regardless of size. Authorities have begun assessing the full extent of damage in Ulladulla as recovery operations progress.
