Sydney, Melbourne weather: Urgent warning issued

Severe weather has impacted three states in Australia, leading to significant destruction and loss of life. A 63-year-old woman tragically died when a tree fell on her cabin at a holiday park in Moama, located on the NSW-Victorian border. The extreme conditions began on Sunday night, prompting Victoria's State Emergency Service to receive over 2,800 calls for assistance, with a majority concerning fallen trees. Areas such as Warragul, Moe, and Emerald have been particularly hard hit. The winds reached alarming speeds, with gusts of 146 km/h recorded at Wilsons Promontory National Park and over 100 km/h in suburban Melbourne. This has resulted in widespread damage, including downed trees and power lines, leaving approximately 100,000 residents without electricity. Public transport in Victoria is facing significant delays due to debris obstructing train and tram lines, and authorities have advised against unnecessary travel. In addition to the chaos in Victoria, Sydney Airport has seen numerous flight cancellations, with only one runway operational due to the high winds. Qantas, Virgin Australia, and Jetstar have all cancelled multiple flights, affecting travel plans for many passengers. Travelers are urged to check with their airlines for updates on their flights. Tasmania has also experienced severe weather, resulting in damage to infrastructure and power outages affecting around 10,000 customers. Emergency services are expected to provide further updates as the situation develops, with another storm front anticipated to hit on Monday night.