Vigorous westerly winds are being felt across the Illawarra on Tuesday, with gusts in excess of 90km/h recorded in some areas.
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The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for damaging winds.
The bureau says the vigorous westerlies were in the wake of a cold front, which was being reinforced by a trough passing to the south.
Damaging winds averaging 55 to 65km/h, with peak gusts reaching around 90km/h, are possible over the Shoalhaven, Illawarra, Southern Highlands and parts of the adjacent ranges.
A westerly wind gust of 91km/h was recorded in Albion Park at 12.04pm, while an 89km/h gust was felt at Port Kembla Harbour at 11.22am.
Elsewhere, wind gusts of 87km/h and 80km/h have been recorded at Bellambi and Kiama, respectively.
Winds are expected to ease later on Tuesday afternoon.
The strong winds have also made it feel much colder than it appears outside, with the apparent temperature across Wollongong stuck in single digits so far on Tuesday.
At 12.20pm, the air temperature at Albion Park was 15.1 degrees. However, the apparent temperature – which takes into account wind chill – was just 2.5 degrees.
On the coast at Bellambi at the same time, the apparent temperature was 4.4 degrees, despite the air temperature being 15.5 degrees.
Andrew Pearson
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
