A dangerous surf warning is current for the Illawarra coast on Thursday, as windy conditions whip up wild seas.
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The Bureau of Meteorology has warned large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, swimming and surfing.
A southerly swell of 2.5 to 3 metres is expected to increase to 3 to 5 metres during Thursday afternoon.
A gale warning is also current for Illawarra coastal waters on Thursday.
A vigorous cold front has crossed NSW, bringing a gusty west to southwesterly change to most coastal waters, the bureau said.
“In the wake of this front, a low pressure circulation has developed over the Tasman Sea, bringing increasing southerly winds,” it said.
“Winds are expected to ease later today as the low moves away and a high pressure system in the Bight extends a ridge eastwards.”
Beachgoers are reminded council lifeguards and volunteer surf lifesavers no longer patrol Wollongong beaches.
North Wollongong is the city’s the only patrolled beach, where lifeguards on duty from 9am to 4pm daily.
While swimming is not advised during dangerous surf conditions, the ocean temperature of 22 degrees is warmer than Thursday’s forecast maximum of 18 degrees in Wollongong.
The wind chill is making air conditions feel much cooler – at 2pm it was 17.2 degrees at Bellambi, but the apparent temperature was just 10.9 degrees.