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Wednesday, 10.30am: Illawarra-South Coast SES crews are continuing to clear downed trees and branches, as the region cleans up from two days of wild weather.
The regions’ SES teams had received 181 requests for help and, as of 9.30am on Wednesday, about 30 of them were yet to be completed.
The worst of the damaging winds hit the Wollongong, Kiama and Shoalhaven areas, with most of the SES jobs relating to downed trees and branches.
“Crews were out until about 1 o’clock this morning [Wednesday],” SES Illawarra-South Coast public information officer Joshua McLaren told the Mercury.
Mr McLaren said the damage was “pretty evenly-spread” across the Wollongong, Shoalhaven and Kiama areas.
“The Kiama area and Gerringong, even though they didn’t have as many [jobs] as Wollongong and the Shoalhaven, they seem to be more noteworthy jobs,” he said.
“We had quite a large tree come down on a house in Gerringong [on Tuesday night].”
On Wednesday morning, crews were also working to clear a large tree branch on a roof and power lines in Mangerton.
Endeavour Energy reports power has been restored to Sanctuary Point, although 11 customers in Cambewarra remain in the dark.
Wind gusts reached 107km/h at Albion Park and 93km/h at Bellambi on Tuesday night.
Wednesday, 7am: Gale force winds with gusts of up to 100km per hour have ripped through parts of NSW leaving almost 10,000 homes and businesses without power.
The worst effected areas recorded wind gusts between 90-100km per hour at Green Cape on the Far South Coast, Gabo Island, Bellambi and Moss Vale overnight.
On Tuesday night Endeavour Energy had 9000 properties without power across its network as winds brought down trees over power lines.
By 1am power had been restored to 5000 homes but as of Wednesday morning, 1800 properties were still without power. A majority of those were in Sanctuary Point on the south coast while some properties in the southern highlands were also without power.
The worst of the wild winds appears to be over with a forecast for easing conditions throughout Wednesday.
"It will be a little bit windy this morning but it we are anticipating it will be easing off by this afternoon," Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) duty forecaster Andrew Haigh said.
"The next system to come through for us will be a high pressure ridge that will stabilise the wind conditions."
Mr Haigh said the strong winds were concentrated around the central and southern ranges of NSW.
"The worst of it is definitely over we have cancelled the severe weather warning."
- with Ava Benny-Morrison
Tuesday, 10.30pm: That’s it from us for Tuesday night. If you need assistance overnight, please contact the SES on 132 500. If it’s an emergency, call Triple Zero.
Recapping current incidents on the roads:
- BULLI TOPS: Fallen tree – Appin Road southbound approaching M1 Princes Motorway
- WINDANG: Fallen tree and wires – Windang Road northbound at Primbee Bypass. Two of three lanes closed.
- TOWRADGI: Fallen tree – Memorial Drive near Towradgi Road. Northbound traffic affected.
- CRINGILA: Fallen tree – Springhill Road at Five Islands Road. One of three northbound lanes closed.
- GERRINGONG: Fallen tree – Princes Highway approaching Gerringong. Traffic affected in all directions.
- NOWRA HILL: Princes Hwy closed northbound between Btu Rd and Warra Warra Rd due to a fallen tree. Diversions via Btu Rd and Albatross Rd.
For the latest traffic updates on major roads overnight, visit: livetraffic.com
Also recapping the Bureau of Meteorology’s severe weather warning for damaging winds, currently in place across the Illawarra.
The bureau says a trough is moving through southern NSW with vigorous westerly winds ahead of and behind the front.
“Damaging winds averaging 60 to 70 km/h with peak gusts of 90 to 100 km/h are currently being observed along parts of the ranges and coastal areas,” the bureau’s warning said.
Winds are expected to moderate on Wednesday morning.
10.05pm: A couple of updates on Nowra roads.
- SOUTH NOWRA: All lanes now open the Princes Hwy due after the removal of fallen tree and wires near Quinns Lane.
- NOWRA HILL: Princes Hwy closed northbound between Btu Rd and Warra Warra Rd due to a fallen tree. Diversions via Btu Rd and Albatross Rd.
9.35pm: Here’s an update from the NSW SES Wollongong City Unit.
9.30pm: Here’s the latest on Illawarra and Shoalhaven roads.
- KIAMA: Fallen tree – Princes Highway southbound approaching South Kiama Drive
- BULLI TOPS: Fallen tree – Appin Road southbound approaching M1 Princes Motorway
- WINDANG: Fallen tree – Windang Road northbound at Primbee Bypass
- CRINGILA: Fallen tree – Springhill Road at Five Islands Road. One of three northbound lanes closed.
- GERRINGONG: Fallen tree – Princes Highway approaching Gerringong. Traffic affected in all directions.
- SOUTH NOWRA: Fallen tree and wires – Princes Highway at Quinns Lane. Traffic affected in both directions.
- BOMADERRY: Fallen trees – Princes Highway near Cambewarra Rd. Northbound traffic affected.
9.15pm: A fallen tree is affecting traffic northbound on the Princes Highway, approaching South Kiama Drive, at Kiama.
9pm: The Illawarra’s severe thunderstorm warning has been cancelled.
However, the severe weather warning for damaging winds remains current.
What’s the situation at your place? Do you have pictures or video to share? Email cos@illawarramercury.com.au or send them via our Facebook page.
8.45pm: A fallen tree is reportedly affecting traffic in both directions on Picton Road, at Mount Keira Road, at Cataract.
8.35pm: A fallen tree is affecting southbound traffic on the M1 Princes Motorway at Mount Ousley.
It comes as a 93km/h wind gust was recorded at Bellambi about 8.30pm.
8.18pm: One of three northbound lanes on Springhill Road, at Five Islands Road, in Cringila has been closed due to a fallen tree.
A fallen tree is also affecting northbound traffic on Windang Road at the Primbee bypass, Windang.
8.15pm: A fallen tree is affecting traffic on the Princes Highway on approach to Gerringong.
It is understood the toppled tree is near the Omega Bridge.
8.12pm: A westerly wind gust of 107km/h has hit at Albion Park.
The gust was recorded at 7.50pm.
On the coast, the Bellambi weather station registered a north-westerly gust of 83km/h at 7.53pm.
8.10pm: More than 600 customers are without power in the Berry area, Endeavour Energy says.
8.05pm: Traffic lights flashing yellow at Cleveland Rd/Marshall St intersection in Dapto.
Meanwhile, a fallen tree and wires are affecting traffic on the Princes Highway, near Quinns Lane, at South Nowra.
7.50pm: Traffic lights at the Industrial Road/Pioneer Drive intersection at Oak Flats flashing yellow. Traffic affected in all directions.
A number of fallen trees are affecting northbound traffic on the Princes Highway, near Cambewarra Road, at Bomaderry.
7.45pm: More than 1000 customers in the Gerringong area are also without power, as a severe storm front makes its way up the coast from the south west.
Endeavour Energy reports 1240 of its customers in the 2534 postcode are currently in the dark, including Broughton Village, Foxground, Gerringong, Gerroa, Rose Valley, Toolijooa and Willow Vale.
7.35pm: Widespread power outages are being experienced across Nowra on Tuesday evening.
Endeavour Energy is reporting almost 3000 customers in the 2541 postcode – Nowra, North Nowra and South Nowra – are without power.
A further 2886 customers in the 2540 postcode (Brundee, Falls Creek, Numbaa, Old Erowal Bay, Sanctuary Point, Sussex Inlet, Terara, Tomerong, Vincentia, Woollamia and Worrigee) are also in the dark.
There are numerous reports of trees down across the Nowra area.
Tuesday, 7pm: A severe thunderstorm warning for the Illawarra and parts of the South Coast has now been added to the severe weather warning already current for the regions.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds in the Wollongong, Nowra and Batemans Bay areas over the next several hours.
Despite no earlier mention of a storm, the bureau revised its Wollongong forecast at 6.42pm to state: “Medium (40%) chance of showers in the late afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm in the late afternoon and evening. Winds westerly 50 to 60 km/h decreasing to 40 to 50 km/h in the late evening.”
Small hail and a 96 km/h wind gust were reported in Canberra late on Tuesday afternoon.
A severe weather warning for damaging winds is also current.
The bureau says a trough is moving through southern NSW with vigorous westerly winds ahead of and behind the front.
“Damaging winds averaging 60 to 70 km/h with peak gusts of 90 to 100 km/h are currently being observed along parts of the ranges and coastal areas,” the bureau’s warning said.
Winds are expected to moderate Wednesday morning.
A 90 km/h gust observed at Nowra at 1.40pm on Tuesday, with gusts reaching 87km/h at Albion Park (5.20pm) and 83km/h at Bellambi (5pm).
Tuesday, 3pm: The State Emergency Service (SES) has asked Illawarra residents to be on alert ahead of more wild winds on Tuesday evening.
The SES has responded to 71 requests for assistance across its Illawarra-South Coast region since the windy weather hit on Monday night, mainly for downed trees and branches.
The worst-affected spots were the Wollongong area, along with Kiama and Jamberoo.
NSW SES Illawarra-South Coast public information officer Joshua McLaren said the worst of the winds hit between 9pm and 10.30pm.
“We had a spike of calls around 11 o'clock [on Monday night],” Mr McLaren said.
“It seemed to pick up again as people woke up [on Tuesday morning] and went out and actually observed their property in daylight.”
The SES has advised people to:
- Move vehicles under cover or away from trees.
- Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.
- Keep at least 8 metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences.
- Report fallen power lines to either Ausgrid on 131 388, or Endeavour Energy on 131 003 or Essential Energy on 132 080, as shown on your power bill.
- For emergency help in floods and storms, ring your local SES Unit on 132 500.
“We’re just urging the public that with already having those winds last night, they observe if there is any damage around their property and prepare for this afternoon if these winds do eventuate,” Mr McLaren said.
Tuesday, 1pm: The Bureau of Meteorology has updated its severe weather warning for the Illawarra, with damaging winds forecast to lash the region on Tuesday afternoon.
The bureau says an approaching trough will follow Monday’s cold front, with an associated strong pressure gradient.
As a result, damaging winds averaging 60 to 70 km/h with peak gusts of 90 to 100 km/h are being observed along parts of the ranges early on Tuesday afternoon.
The damaging winds are likely to extend to coastal areas, including the Illawarra and South Coast, during the day.
Winds are expected to moderate Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile, a gale warning is in force for Illawarra coastal waters.
Tuesday, 9.30am: A severe weather warning remains current for the Illawarra and parts of the South Coast with more damaging winds forecast for the area.
Winds up to 70km/h, with peak gusts up to 100km/h are likely to extend to the region, the Bureau of Meteorology said in a statement.
Monday, 11.25pm: Wild and woolly conditions are continuing across the Illawarra.
The highest wind speed recorded so far on Monday night at Bellambi was a west-northwesterly gust of 109km/h at 10.50pm.
Inland at Albion Park, a peak westerly wind gust of 89km/h was recorded at 10.39pm.
The strong winds have caused power outages in some Illawarra suburbs, including Corrimal where traffic lights at the Memorial Drive/Railway Street intersection are blacked out.
Endeavour Energy reports the following power outages:
- Postcode 2518 (Corrimal) – 180 customers affected
- Postcode 2519 (Balgownie, Mount Ousley and Mount Pleasant) – 130 customers affected
- Postcode 2533 (Jamberoo, Jerrara, Kiama, Kiama Downs) – 1000 customers affected
To check for outages overnight, visit: endeavourenergy.com.au.
Recapping the severe weather warning for damaging winds, issued by the Bureau of Meteorology earlier on Monday night.
The bureau says a cold front has moved through NSW, with a strong pressure gradient behind it.
“This pressure gradient is causing strong winds over the ranges and parts of the southern and central coasts,” the bureau said.
Damaging winds averaging 60 to 70 km/h with peak gusts in excess of 90 km/h have been felt in some areas and are expected to continue on Monday evening.
Winds are expected to moderate on Tuesday morning but may strengthen again Tuesday evening.
10.30pm: Wind gusts have hit 100km/h at Bellambi on Monday night.
The north-westerly 100km/h gust was recorded at 9.37pm.
Inland at Albion Park, a westerly wind gust of 87km/h was recorded at 10.27pm.
A severe weather warning for damaging winds is current for the Illawarra (see details below).
Endeavour Energy reports a number of homes and businesses in Bellambi, Corrimal and East Corrimal are without power.
Power is also out in parts of Balgownie, Mount Ousley and Mount Pleasant, along with areas in Kiama, Kiama Downs and Jamberoo.
On the waters, a gale warning is current for Illawarra coast on Monday and Tuesday.
9pm: Wild winds are battering the Illawarra on Monday night, prompting the Bureau of Meteorology to issue a severe weather warning.
A north-westerly wind gust of 95km/h was recorded at Bellambi at 8.49pm, while an 85km/h gust hit Albion Park at 8.43pm.
The bureau says a cold front has moved through NSW, with a strong pressure gradient behind it.
“This pressure gradient is causing strong winds over the ranges and parts of the southern and central coasts,” the bureau said.
Damaging winds averaging 60 to 70 km/h with peak gusts in excess of 90 km/h have been felt in some areas and are expected to continue on Monday evening.
Winds are expected to moderate on Tuesday morning but may strengthen again Tuesday evening.
On the roads, a fallen tree is affecting northbound traffic on the Princes Highway, near Cambewarra Road, at Bomaderry.
3pm: It’s been a windy weekend across the Illawarra and the gusty conditions are done just yet.
Northerly 20 to 30 km/h winds are expected to turn westerly and increase to 40 to 50 km/h during Monday evening.
A 67km/h wind gust was recorded at Albion Park about 1.50pm, with the Bellambi Point weather station registering a 56km/h gust about an hour earlier.
Meanwhile, sheep graziers in parts of the Illawarra have been warned that cold temperatures, wet weather and strong westerly winds are expected during Monday and Tuesday.
There is a risk of losses of lambs and sheep exposed to these conditions, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
A gale warning is current for the Illawarra and Batemans coasts.