The Illawarra was whipped by damaging winds early Wednesday morning – leaving many with dreary, sleep deprived eyes.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The Bureau of Meteorology recorded wind gusts of up to 106 km/h at Bellambi (1:53am), 96 km/h at Albion Park (12:50am) and 80 km/h at Kiama (1:45am).
From 9pm Tuesday to 9am Wednesday the SES received 17 call-outs across the region.
SES spokeswoman Becky Gollings said luckily they hadn’t been called to anything majorly significant, mainly trees down and damaged fences from the wind gusts.
Ms Gollings said it was expected the winds to ease throughout the day.
Illawarra Mercury readers were left awake from 2am, taking to Facebook to report on the weather with “scary” the common description.
![Pool fence shattered. Picture: Nic Yendle Pool fence shattered. Picture: Nic Yendle](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/UPAcJLQNVGftX3BUDy544C/df79f2b2-8ef0-4d1c-8cd5-a352c4c25061.jpg/r0_0_960_540_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
READER ACCOUNTS
Some readers feared windows were about to break and roofs would fly off, house cladding being ripped off, power outages, upturned trampolines and gazebos, and the sound of heavy items being blown around the streets.
“I've never heard winds like that! I don't understand how my house is still standing, I was expecting my windows to explode!,” wrote Hayley Avnell of Mount Warrigal.
“Weirdly, what woke us up was the power failure triggering the robot vacuum to try and clean the floors - it got trapped and started having a whinge about it!! The noise freaked the whole house out,” posted Jen Lysle-van Dyk of a power outage at Unanderra.
Feel like I have a hangover this morning it was so noisy!
- Michellea Sefton
“Albion park was bad l don't think anyone would of slept, I think the neighbours tree must be bare because all the leaves are in our pool,” wrote Tracey Massey Teixeira
“Bulli - banging and crashing all night with branches falling on the tin roof turned out to be twigs, can't believe it as sounded the worst I have heard in a long time!” said Julian Cornter.
“Live in Woonona down beach way, the winds started much sooner then the BoM weather warning [at 1:45am Wednesday], so much for that! Feel like I have a hangover this morning it was so noisy!” posted Michellea Sefton.
If you have any pictures of storm damage, email them to COS@illawarramercury.com.au
The State Emergency Service advise:
* 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.