Tiny Aussie Town Ripped by Rare Tornado

Sun Oct 04 2026 05:43:26 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A rare tornado slammed through Ulladulla on Oct 3, toppling trees and damaging homes in a bustling coastal town.

On 3 October, the quiet coastal town of Ulladulla became the unlikely host of a tornado, captured on many phone videos by its residents. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology linked the whirlwind to severe thunderstorms and noted how uncommon it is for such storms to affect a populated area. Roofs were torn off, trees felled, and property damaged as the funnel lurched across streets. The event highlighted the need for rapid weather alerts in unexpected places.

Ulladulla rattled by a rare tornado

On 3 Oct, the quiet coastal town of Ulladulla, New South Wales, became the unexpected host of a tornado, captured on multiple phone videos by stunned residents. The Meteorological Bureau said the swirling funnel formed from severe thunderstorms, noting it was very uncommon to see one in such a populated place.

Homes suffered roof damage, the wind toppled trees, and a chaotic scene unfolded across streets. Local authorities urged residents to stay indoors during the remaining storm while emergency crews assessed the damage.

For more on how tornadoes affect Australia, check out related stories in the BBC News weather section.