For an overview of the day click here

10.04pm: A car has crashed into a tree on Picton Road at the M1 Princes Motorway at Cataract.

Westbound traffic is affected.

9.20pm: 

8.45pm:

8pm: 

7.46pm: 

7.30pm: Premier Mike Baird has issued a statement encouraging commuters to "spread the peak" on Wednesday.

He said the key messages for commuters in the morning were: 

7.07pm: Trees have also fallen across the road at:

7pm: Northbound traffic on the M1 is affected by a fallen tree on the M1 at Bellambi Creek.

6.45pm: 

6.04pm: 

6.02pm: 

5.55pm: Trees have fallen across the road on Lawrence Hargrave Drive between Stanwell Park and the Seacliff Bridge.

5.52pm: Sydney is in the midst of its biggest storm this century, with the deep east coast low that battered the city on Monday night set to unleash a second evening of mayhem.

The Bureau of Meteorology has updated an earlier forecast that conditions would ease, and is now predicting Tuesday night may be just as wet and windy as the previous 24 hours. Read more here.

5.50pm: Allow extra travel time on the Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra Line after a tree fell near the line at Edgecliff earlier.

5.35pm: Buses continue to replace trains between Oak Flats and Kiama on the South Coast Line.

5.30pm: The Illawarra Highway remains closed near Taylor Road in Albion Park due to flooding. Motorists should use the Princes Highway and Tongarra Road instead.

5.15pm: Here's the latest from the Transport Management Centre

5pm: 

3:32PM: NSW Premier Mike Baird has called on workers from the Illawarra through to the Hunter to start heading home as soon as possible, before the storm conditions get worse.

Mr Baird asked for "bosses to be flexible" in the wake of the severe storm and allow workers in Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle to leave early because the weather could deteriorate further on Tuesday evening.

3:00PM: Endeavour Energy crews have restored power to the 368 customers in Helensburgh, 288 in Wombarra and 148 premises in Scarborough.

However 377 premises in Stanwell Park and 148 in Otford are still without power.

2:49PM: South Coast Trains: The 1:23 Central to Kiama/SouthCoastLine service is delayed up to 35mins due to urgent signal repairs at Waterfall caused by adverse weather.

The 12:55 Kiama to Central service is delayed up to 40mins due to urgent signal repairs at Waterfall caused by adverse weather.

2:21PM: A tree gas fallen on the roof of a house at Towradgi. Fire and Rescue NSW units from Corrimal, Thirroul and Wollongong are at the scene.

2:18PM: Endeavour Energy emergency crews are continuing to repair widespread damage to our electricity network across Greater Western Sydney, the Southern Highlands and Illawarra region.

Over 8,000 customers are currently without power in the following areas:

Fallen powerlines and other storm damage can be reported to Endeavour Energy by calling 131 003.

2:16PM: Senior Weatherzone meteorologist Rob Sharpe said very heavy surf, which may lead to localised damage and coastal erosion, is forecast for the Illawarra. 

Beach conditions are dangerous and people have been warned to stay away from the surf and exposed areas.

Mr Sharpe said data from the Port Kembla wave bouy was ‘‘a bit erratic’’, however Sydney had recorded ‘‘significant’’ wave heights of seven metres. 

‘‘Today we’ve seen waves on the beaches [in Sydney] of 10 to 12 foot in surf language, so six foot is double overhead when somebody’s surfing a wave,’’ he said.

‘‘I would expect that in the Illawarra it has been fairly similar, probably a little bit less intense than Sydney but close to, due to the powerful east coast low.’’ 

Between 9am and 2pm Tuesday, 7.8mm has fallen at Bellambi Point, 5.2mm at Albion Park and 2.8mm at Kiama. 

2:11PM:  The Illawarra is expected to be spared the worst of the wild weather conditions that are wreaking havoc around Newcastle. 

According to the BOM, an intense low pressure system just off the coast near Newcastle is expected to move gradually south on Tuesday afternoon and evening, staying close to the coast as it does.

The BOM warns heavy rainfall is possible about the Metropolitan and Illawarra.

Senior Weatherzone meteorologist Rob Sharpe told the Mercury it was unlikely the Illawarra would see the intensity of rain experienced further north. 

‘‘What we’re seeing in the Hunter is it’s quite close to the low pressure system and ... there’s a couple of severe thunderstorms as well there and that’s why we’ve seen the remarkable flooding rains around Dungog and Maitland,’’ Mr Sharpe said.

‘‘For the Illawarra we’re expecting to see the showers continuing through today and then into tomorrow.

‘‘Winds will remain quite gusty through today and tomorrow, but they’re unlikely to be as strong as they are further north.’’  

Damaging wind averaging 60 to 70 km/h with gusts to about 100 km/h are forecast to continue along the coastal fringe of the Metropolitan and Illawarra forecast districts on Tuesday afternoon.

‘‘As tomorrow continues, we’ll continue to see the gusty winds,’’ Mr Sharpe said.

‘‘The rain will probably be at its heaviest tomorrow [Wednesday] morning then it’ll start to back off.’’

2:02PM:  NSW Premier Mike Baird urges people to go home early:

NSW Premier Mike Baird has urged people to start to head home from work, with weather conditions expected to worsen.

"We are calling for bosses to be flexible, people to make arrangements in an orderly way to start to head home ASAP," Mr Baird said.

Mr Baird is asking people to be patient as emergency crews deal with life-threatening situations.

2:02PM: A number of trees are reportedly down along the M1 Princes Motorway between Wollongong and Helensburgh. Motorists should exercise caution. 

1:49PM: The Public Information and Inquiry Centre has been activated to support the current severe weather response in NSW.

It is currently open and members of the public can contact the Public Information and Inquiry Centre (PIIC) on 1800 227 228, regarding information on the flood and storm operation across NSW.

It should be noted that this inquiry hotline does not replace any emergency hotlines. For emergency flood calls please call the State Emergency Service on 132 500.

1:41PM: Cataract: A broken down car on Picton Rd near the M1 Princes Motorway. One of two westbound lanes are closed and motorists are advised to exercise caution.

1:38PM: Moss Vale: A fallen tree is causing traffic problems on the Illawarra HWy near Farmborough Drive. Traffic is affected in both directions. Motorists are advised to reduce speed and exercise caution.

1:14PM: Horrifying footage from Dungog as an entire house floats away.

1:04PM: Tragic news from the Hunter Valley where three people have died in the township of Dungog, Central Hunter region as a result of severe weather conditions which continue to impact the region today.

During this morning a woman and two men were located deceased within the Dungog township by Central Hunter Local Area Command. The circumstances surrounding their deaths are still to be determined.

12:28PM: Damien Ryan sent us this photo of the car park at Austinmer beach covered in sand.

12:21PM: The Audley weir remains closed in the Royal National Park due to flooding.

The Illawarra Highway also remains closed near Taylor Road in Albion Park due to flooding.

12:14PM: A Bellambi resident has reported a large gum tree toppled onto the footpath outside his home on Tuesday morning and on to a power box.

Phil Hedger jumped out of bed to find the stringy bark gum, which he said was up to 14 metres tall, uprooted on Cawley Street about 8.30am.

Mr Hedger said the footpath was a high traffic area in the morning and mid-afternoon to Bellambi Public School.

‘‘[It was] very lucky that no school kids were coming down at the time,’’ he said. 

‘‘As soon as it happened I just ran straight out to see if anybody was there.’’

11:58AM: The South Coast line remains closed between Oak Flats and Kiama due to the weather. Buses replace trains. Allow extra travel time.

10:38AM: Power blackouts: At 10am on Tuesday, the number of premises without power had climbed to more than 1000, with the majority in the northern suburbs.

In Helensburgh, 368 customers were without power, 288 in Wombarra, 203 in Stanwell Park and 148 premises in Scarborough.

Unanderra had 141 homes affected.

By 10.30am, power was restored to the homes in Unanderra and Scarborough, but an Endeavour Energy spokeswoman expects more calls to come in through the day.

10:21AM: The Bureau of Meteorology has revised it's alert for Illawarra coastal waters from a gale warning to a storm force wind warning. 

A gale warning remains in place for the Batemans Coast and Eden Coast.

9:45AM: There are no reports of Illawarra schools being affected by the wild weather, according to a Department of Education and Communities spokeswoman.

9:25AM: TOTAL ILLAWARRA RAINFALL - 24 hours to 9am Tuesday

9:15AM: Heathcote: There is heavy traffic on Princes Hwy at Heathcote, northbound approaching Heathcote Rd due to adverse weather conditions. Motorists should expect delays.

9:12AM: Wollongong City Council advises that Corrimal Pool is closed after damage from last night's weather. Port Kembla Pool also still closed.

There are no full road closures in the Wollongong City Council area but signs have been put in several places where water is over part of the road. Motorists are advised to take care and slow down.

8:53AM: Mount Ousley M1 Princes Mwy: One of three northbound lanes is closed due to a car breakdown. emergency services are in attendance. Exercise caution.

8:51AM: Illawarra sheep graziers have been told to be on alert as wet and windy conditions continue. Graziers are warned cold temperatures, rain and southerly winds are expected on Tuesday and there is a high risk of losses of lambs and sheep exposed to these conditions.

8:49AM: A gale warning is current for the Illawarra, Batemans and Eden coasts.

8:45AM: Illawarra weather update: 

The BOM has re-issued a severe weather warning for damaging winds, heavy rainfall and damaging surf for people in the Illawarra district.

‘‘An intense low pressure system near the boundary of the Hunter and Mid North Coast districts is expected to move gradually southwards later today, staying close to the coast as it does,’’ the BOM warning said.

Damaging winds averaging 60 to 70 km/h with gusts to about 100 km/h are forecast to continue along the coastal fringe of the Metropolitan and Illawarra forecast districts on Tuesday.

Heavy rainfall is likely in the Hunter district, but also possible about the Metropolitan and Illawarra districts.

Very heavy surf which may lead to localised damage and coastal erosion is forecast for the Illawarra.

Beach conditions are dangerous and people should stay well away from the surf and surf exposed areas.

8:41AM: Power outage: About 450 homes in the Illawarra and South Coast are without power in the wake of Monday night’s heavy winds.

In Helensburgh, Endeavour Energy are working to restore power to 190 premises.

In Unanderra 141 homes are blacked out.

There are also isolated cases of streets being blacked out as well.

Across the Illawarra and Southern Highlands, Endeavour Energy worked to restore power to more than 650 premises.

An Endeavour Energy spokeswoman said all programmed maintenance has been cancelled until further notice to allow crews to remain on standby to respond to calls quickly.

8:38AM: Royal National Park: Audley Weir - road closed due to flooding.

8:33AM: The South Coast line between Oak Flats and Kiama is partially closed due to the weather. Buses are replacing services but passengers are advised to allow plenty of additional travel time. More: http://ow.ly/LSyqf 

Non-essential travel should be avoided across the road and transport network due to the adverse weather conditions.

8:31AM: Sydney Airport: Domestic flights are experiencing delays of up to 45 min  at Sydney Airport due to weather. Passengers advised to check with their airlines for latest flight details.

8:27AM: Austinmer: Powerlines are down in Austinmer Street, Austinmer, next to the public school after a large palm tree fell down.

Two fire crews along with Endeavour Energy workers are in attendance.

8:15AM: Maddens Plains: The truck accident on Appin Rd has now been cleared.

8:07AM: Albion Park: The Illawarra Hwy at Taylor Rd remains flooded and is closed in both directions. Avoid the area. Diversions are in place and the road will remain closed until further notice.

8:00AM: Appin Road at Maddens Plains. A truck accident is affecting traffic in both directions. Motorists are advised to exercise caution.

7.55AM: Royal National Park: A fallen tree is affecting traffic in both directions at Sir bertram Stevens Drive.