East coast lows typically intensify rapidly over the course of 12 to 24 hours, and are one of the more dangerous weather systems to impact the eastern seaboard.
Loading
For the weather system that will hit Sydney on Tuesday to be upgraded to an east coast low, it must meet certain criteria, including where it forms, how long it lingers, its pressure gradient, if it has a closed circulation and is associated with severe weather.
These weather systems also occur off the coasts of Africa and America – where they are often referred to as east coast cyclones, according to the weather bureau.
Regular coastal lows occur several times each year across Australia’s east coast, particularly in southern Queensland, NSW and eastern Victoria, mostly throughout June and in autumn and winter months.
