Unlike the previous weekend, the waves that struck the Great Lakes on Friday, February 14 were not accompanied by strong onshore winds, torrential rain and the myriad debris that washed into the ocean from the region's flooded waterways.
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Instead, the powerful long-period swell produced by ex-Tropical Cyclone Uesi was groomed by morning offshore winds and accompanied by brilliant sunshine, resulting in an exhilarating spectacle.
Pacific Palms' photographer, Kian Bates of Raw Edge Photography, took advantage of the ideal conditions and captured some great shots of the powerful surf around the Great Lakes.
Related: Big waves at Forster Main Beach
He wasn't the only one captivated by the show nature was putting on either.
"There were people everywhere watching the amazing power generated swells hit our coastline," Kian said.
"They were all pretty blown away."
Kian believed the swell was the biggest and cleanest to hit the coast since the winter of 2016, when an east coast low produced a week of enormous surf along the eastern seaboard.
"It was probably eight to 10 feet," he said.
"It's pretty rare."
While the surf packed a punch, it didn't last long, with the swell size shrinking considerably by Saturday afternoon as Uesi tracked south before heading towards New Zealand.
Still, Kian believed it made a lasting impression on all who saw it.
"Just the energy and the power," he said.
"It was pretty amazing."
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