A small tornado was reported in Ulladulla at about 1 p.m. on Saturday, 3 October 2026, as severe thunderstorms affected parts of New South Wales. The Sydney Morning Herald report says trees were brought down and buildings damaged; it does not give an official tornado rating, damage total or injury update.
What happened in Ulladulla?
The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) reported that a small tornado passed through Ulladulla on the NSW South Coast at about 1 p.m. on Saturday, 3 October. The report says trees came down and buildings were damaged, but gives no count of affected homes or official damage assessment. The account appeared on a syndicating news page that linked to the SMH report.
Ulladulla resident Wishaya La Spina told the newspaper she was in a car with her baby when she saw the tornado. “It was already storming, but nothing too severe. Then the wind just started to pick up and the next minute we spotted that little tornado,” she said. She also described the experience as “pretty scary” and said she was trying to protect her baby because “you never know when a tree could come falling.” Those are eyewitness remarks, not a meteorological assessment.
What damage and emergency response were reported?
The SMH account said the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) had recorded more than 80 incidents statewide, most of them in Ulladulla. It relayed reports of roofs blown off, properties damaged and trees down across roads. This is the incident count as reported by the newspaper, not a live tally independently retrieved from NSW SES.
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The report did not establish whether anyone was injured. No official tornado rating, wind speed or event-specific damage survey was available in the account, so those details should not be inferred from the eyewitness description or reported damage.
What storm warnings were in effect?
According to the SMH report, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) warned of severe thunderstorms and damaging wind gusts across central and south-eastern NSW. The warning also cited large hail and heavy rain that could cause flash flooding in forecast areas. Sydney, Wollongong, Katoomba, Penrith, Parramatta and Bowral were among the named places.
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The newspaper reported forecast storm timing—not confirmed arrival times—of up to 4:10 p.m. for Wollongong, Campbelltown and Liverpool, and up to 4:40 p.m. for Sutherland, Sydney Airport, Richmond, Penrith and Sydney Olympic Park.
A separate BOM coastal forecast issued at 4:05 p.m. EST on 3 October included a strong-wind warning for the Batemans Coast and the possibility of thunderstorm squalls north of Moruya Heads. That regional forecast is not confirmation of the Ulladulla tornado and is distinct from the event-related warning described by the SMH.
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What is confirmed—and what remains unclear?
- Reported by the SMH: a small tornado in Ulladulla at about 1 p.m., tree and building damage, eyewitness observations, and an NSW SES incident count of more than 80 statewide.
- Not established in the available account: an official tornado classification, wind speed, full damage total or injury update.
- Forecast, not observed timing: the reported afternoon arrival times for storms in other NSW locations.
The distinction matters: an eyewitness can describe what they saw, while a formal tornado classification or damage assessment requires an official evaluation. Likewise, a warning’s forecast time should not be treated as proof of when a storm actually arrived.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should you do if a tornado or severe storm threatens?
For general safety, NSW SES advises taking shelter immediately during a tornado, staying away from windows, doors and outside walls, and not trying to outrun a tornado in a vehicle. If driving, seek solid shelter. Call Triple Zero in a life-threatening emergency. This is general NSW SES guidance, not a description of actions taken during the Ulladulla incident.
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NSW SES says it issues severe-weather warnings using the Australian Warning System, while BOM issues Severe Weather and Severe Thunderstorm Warnings. Check current official warnings and local emergency advice for your location rather than relying on forecast times reported earlier in the day.
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