3.46pm:
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3.15pm: State Emergency Service volunteers have attended 84 calls for assistance since Monday night as gale force winds wreak havoc across the Illawarra.
Acting deputy region controller Alex McFadden said much of the damage had occurred around Nowra and the Wingecarribee Shire.
At 2.30pm, 12 calls for assistance were registered in the Wollongong area.
Ms McFadden urged residents to be careful as the winds continued to strengthen throughout the afternoon.
‘‘The most important thing for people is to be vigilant - make sure they’re aware of their surroundings, particularly as they’re walking to and from school,’’ she said.
‘‘Tree branches and tiles can be blown away and into the path of pedestrians as they come home from work.’’
Anyone who encounters damage to their home is encouraged to call the SES on 132 500.
EARLIER: Illawarra and South Coast State Emergency Service volunteers responded to 23 calls for assistance on Monday night as wild winds up to 110km/h lashed the region.
A severe weather warning is current for the Illawarra with wind gusts up to 100km/h forecast.
Gales are expected to become more general and stronger during the day and extend to central parts of the state's coast on Tuesday afternoon.
SES volunteers were called to a range of jobs, including trees pulled down in the wind, awnings ripped off front porches and skylight damage.
Acting deputy region controller Alex McFadden said so far, no one had been injured due to the weather.
‘‘We’ve been quite lucky this morning however the larger winds are still predicted to impact on the south coast and Illawarra later today,’’ she said.
‘‘The type of tree jobs experienced this morning can be a bit tricky so we’ve got crews on site working to remove those trees and they make up the bulk of our work this morning.’’