Wind gusts of more than 80km/h have already been recorded across Wollongong on Sunday morning – but the Bureau of Meteorology has warned even stronger winds could be on the way.
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The bureau has issued a severe weather warning for damaging winds and damaging surf in coastal areas of the Illawarra and South Coast.
“A complex low pressure system over the Tasman Sea is combining with a high pressure system to the state's west to produce vigorous south to southwesterly winds and large waves, especially along southern parts of the coast,” the bureau said.
Damaging wind gusts, in excess of 90km/h, are possible with showers and thunderstorms for coastal parts of the state south of Wollongong from Sunday afternoon.
A west-southwesterly wind gust of 82km/h was recorded at Albion Park at 8.37am on Sunday, while an 80km/h gust from the west-northwest was felt in Bellambi at 7.39am.
The bureau says Wollongong can expect the slight chance of a shower, with the risk of thunder, during the afternoon and evening.
Showers are likely to move offshore later on Sunday night reducing the risk to coastal parts.
The city is heading for a top of 16 degrees. At 8.40am, it was 11.2 degrees at both Albion Park and Bellambi but the wind chill made it feel more like -3.2 and 0.6, respectively.
Meanwhile, damaging surf conditions, with waves exceeding five metres, may produce significant beach erosion for south-facing coastal zones south of Sydney from late Sunday night.
A hazardous surf warning is current for the Sydney, Illawarra, Batemans and Eden coasts on Sunday, and will remain in place on Monday.
Surf and swell conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, boating and swimming.
A gale wind warning has been issued for the Sydney, Illawarra, Batemans and Eden coasts on Sunday and Monday.