A strong north-westerly airstream moving through the region ahead of a cold front was responsible for the unexpected windy blast, which peaked mid-morning.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the Bellambi weather station registered a mean wind speed of 61km/h, with gusts to 93km/h, at 10.30am.

A peak gust of 100km/h was recorded just seven minutes later, while Albion Park's highest wind gust was 89km/h at 10.08am.

The bureau had issued a strong wind warning for the Illawarra and Batemans coasts early on Monday, but a severe weather warning for damaging winds in the Illawarra wasn't broadcast until 10.40am.

Weatherzone meteorologist Guy Dixon said the winds were the result of a "tight pressure gradient" ahead of the cold front.

"Obviously the cold front was much more vigorous over Tasmania and Victoria today, but parts of the NSW coast definitely saw significant impacts, the wind being one of them," Mr Dixon said.

Maximum temperatures climbed to about 22 degrees when the winds eased about 12.30pm.

"The front that we're seeing today [Monday] is the last of three fronts in quick succession, so this is the last and most significant," he said. "We will see lingering cold air in the wake of this front and those southerly winds will be adding an element of wind chill."

Meantime, the weather bureau has issued a warning for damaging winds around 60km/h, with peak gusts of 100km/h, for parts of the Illawarra on Tuesday morning.

Shellharbour City Council closed its rubbish tip at Dunmore due to the windy conditions on Monday, posting on social media about 10am it was "too dangerous" for it to remain operational. The facility reopened at 12.45pm.

Trees and power lines were brought down at a number of locations across the region, including the M1 Princes Motorway near the on-ramp to Memorial Drive.

The State Emergency Service received at least 30 calls for assistance across the Illawarra, mostly concentrated in the Wollongong and northern suburbs area, but stretching down to Nowra.