High winds cause widespread damage

Wind gusts estimated to be close to 90km/h hit the Peninsula at around 9pm on January 23, causing widespread damage from fallen trees and rain.

State Emergency Services deputy zone commander Ms Robyn Barco said Umina was the hardest hit area in the storms.

She said there were also calls to Ettalong and Pearl Beach and 10 SES crews attended to 42 jobs on the Peninsula after the storm and through the following weekend.

"There were a lot of tree jobs, down on houses, driveways, over power lines and one particular tree down in Umina literally split in half and fell on a caravan," she said.

"We did not have any rescues, fortunately.

"Our work was clearing up the damage and making it safe again after the storms."

Lightning strikes as well as fallen trees contributed to power blackouts, with temperatures in the 30s into the evening, following daytime temperatures of up to 44 degrees.

Electricity supply was mostly restored by Saturday morning.

SOURCES

Website, 30 Jan 2020

Gosford Observations, Bureau of Meteorology

Interview (Sue Murray), 30 Jan 2020

Robyn Barco, Central Coast Hunter SES