The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning for the area at 8.30am, advising winds averaging 65km/h, with peak wind gusts in excess of 90 km/h.

By 8.55am the warning had been updated to a gale warning for the Illawarra Coast and fire crews had attended a service station at Unanderra when the roof sheeting on the building was blown loose.

In Keiraville three cars were pinned beneath the same fallen tree.

The Wollongong SES unit received more than 30 calls for assistance before 9am, the majority for fallen trees, broken power supplies and roofs ripped from houses.

The SES advised Illawarra residents to keep clear of fallen power lines, secure loose items outside and stay indoors away from windows.

For emergency help ring the SES on 132 500.