WILD wind brought high tides to beaches across Newcastle as water lashed parts of the east coast fringe to end the month of July.
The tide was seen flushing through a walking sand entrance to Jimmys Beach at Winda Woppa, Hawks Nest on Tuesday afternoon.
Hawks Nest resident Dieu Tran captured the moment on video around 5pm on July 30.
"I came here from Vietnam about three years ago and I've never seen anything like it," she said.
Powerful swell was soaking and crashing along Newcastle Ocean Baths on Tuesday and Wednesday at low tide, as a result of a low pressure system over the Tasman Sea generating vigorous south to southwesterly wind.
Photographer David Diehm was on his way to work when he captured footage of intense waves crashing over the walls of the baths.
"I wanted to drop in and watch it before heading to work. I enjoy capturing power swell and large waves," he said.
The Bureau of Meteorology expects the system will move slowly over the next few days before weakening late in the week.
Duty forecaster Edward Medlock said the BOM's offshore buoys were recording wave heights between five and seven metres, about 10 kilometres out on Wednesday around midday.
"Significant winds are stirring up those oceans bringing damaging surf to all of the NSW coast, including the Hunter," he said.
"That's looking to ease tomorrow, but there's still going to be a hazardous wind warning as head into the weekend with swell conditions continuing."
Wednesday's swells were expected to reach between 2.5 and three metres, and wind to reach up to 65 kilometres offshore, north of Port Stephens in the late afternoon. The high tide was expected to roll in around 7pm.
The swell for Thursday is predicted to reach between four and five metres and there's a 90 per cent chance of showers.
Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as crossing bars by boat and rock fishing for the rest of the week.
