Waverley Council is urging people to stay safe this week with a severe weather warning for damaging winds and heavy rainfall for most parts of the state.
The Bureau of Meteorology has also issued a marine wind warning for Sydney, Illawarra, Hunter, Batemans and Eden coasts until at least midnight tomorrow (Thursday).
Damaging wind gusts with peak gusts in excess of 90 km/h may develop over parts of the coastal fringe in the warning area from today.
Heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding is forecast to develop today over parts of Sydney, the Hunter and Illawarra, South Coast and parts of Central Tablelands and Southern Tablelands. Six-hourly rainfall totals between 80 and 120 mm are likely.
Waverley Council's Manager of Lifeguard Services, Matt du Plessis, said surf and swell conditions are hazardous for coastal activities including swimming, surfing and rock fishing.
"I implore people to observe these warning and always follow instructions from our Lifeguards," Mr du Plessis said.
"As a general precaution, swimming at ocean beaches should be avoided for up to one day after heavy rainfall or for as long as stormwater is present.
"If you witness an in-water emergency, please inform our Council Lifeguards, or if it is after hours, dial Triple Zero (000) and ask for the Police."
The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage's Beachwatch bulletin uses rainfall data to predict the likelihood of bacterial contamination at Sydney's ocean beaches. For alerts, please visit: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/beachmapp/Beaches/SydneyOceanBeaches
Sydney Water manages sewage overflows in our area and has advised people to take care as pollution is possible at Sydney's beaches. See alerts for Sydney's beaches here: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/beachmapp/Beaches/SydneyOceanBeaches
