Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) Australia is advising that Sydney and Port Botany have been closed to all shipping movements since 22:00hrs yesterday evening (14th October) until further notice, due to storm force winds and swell at the pilot boarding grounds. A small intense low pressure system is currently located off the New South Wales coast near Sydney and the Hunter district and is moving slowly northwards with an associated trough. Gale to storm force southerly winds and large seas are extending along the coast behind the trough. The low and trough will move slowly further offshore during Wednesday with an associated gradual easing in the winds. A high pressure system will move across southern New South Wales by Friday, bringing more stable conditions for the later part of the week. Please find a 3 day weather forecast for Sydney coastal waters detailed below for your reference: 15th October 2014 Storm Force Wind Warning: Winds Southwesterly 30 to 45 knots, reaching up to 50 knots offshore in the morning. Winds decreasing to 20 to 30 knots in the evening. Seas: 4 to 6 metres, decreasing to 2.5 to 4 metres during the afternoon. Swell: South to southeasterly 2 to 3 metres, increasing to 2.5 to 4 metres inshore. Weather: Cloudy, 90% chance of showers. Showers heavy at times offshore early this morning. Thursday, 16th October Winds: Southwesterly 15 to 20 knots, reaching up to 25 knots offshore early in the morning. Winds: tending westerly 10 to 15 knots early in the morning then becoming variable about 10 knots in the early afternoon. Seas: 1.5 to 2.5 metres, decreasing below 1 metre during the morning. Swell: Southerly 3 to 4 metres, decreasing to 2 to 3 metres during the morning. Weather: Mostly sunny. 30% chance of a shower. Friday, 17th  October Winds: South to southeasterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas Below 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the morning. Swell: Southerly 1.5 to 2 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers. Please be aware that wind gusts can be 40 percent stronger than the averages given here, and maximum waves may be up to twice the height. The latest marine wind updates are available from the Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology at http://www.bom.gov.au/nsw/warnings/marinewind.shtml ISS Australia will post further updates to the company website www.iss-shipping.com Customers requiring additional information are invited to contact our Operations in Sydney at [email protected].