North Wollongong volunteer lifeguards Brad Buffolin, left, 15 and Renay Lawrence, 13, survey the scene. Picture: ANDY ZAKELI
Big seas caused widespread beach closures along the Illawarra coast yesterday, placing surf lifesavers on alert.
Volunteers took down flags at 11 beaches, including Bellambi, Coledale, Scarborough, Fairy Meadow, Stanwell Park, North Wollongong, Sandon Point, Port Kembla, Towradgi, Wollongong City Beach and Corrimal.
Illawarra Surf Lifesaving duty officer Lachlan Pritchard said closures lasted all day at some sites.
"Surf Lifesaving NSW released a ... briefing to all members which warned them of the potential for dangerously large surf all weekend, so crews were prepared," he said.
"Large waves were rolling in and quite a lot of it was whitewash. When that happens it's quite hard to tell where the rips are."