Weather warning as ‘southerly buster’ lines up the Illawarra

The Bureau of Meteorology says the “southerly buster” is expected to move through the Illawarra late on Thursday afternoon and evening, bringing an abrupt end to a hot day.

Very-high fire danger is forecast across the Illawarra/Shoalhaven, with temperatures set to nudge 40 degrees in some areas.

At 12.20pm, it was 37.9 degrees at Albion Park – making it the hottest location in NSW, according to Weatherzone – and 36.5 degrees in Nowra.

A northeasterly sea breeze was tempering the heat along the coast, where temperatures were 29.7 degrees in Kiama, 28.3 at Bellambi and 26.3 in Port Kembla. 

Read more: Thousands without power across Wollongong as temperatures rise

Southerly winds averaging 55 to 65km/h – with possible gusts in excess of 90km/h – are expected to develop along parts of the Illawarra coast later on Thursday afternoon and extend northwards, the bureau has warned.

Exposed parts of the Sydney coastal fringe are expected to be affected during the late afternoon or early evening, and the Central Coast in the early evening.

Southerly winds are forecast to decrease in the late evening, but will remain fresh.

The bureau has issued a severe weather warning for damaging winds, for people in parts of the Metropolitan and Illawarra forecast districts.

Locations which may be affected include the Sydney coastal fringe, Wollongong, Woy Woy, The Entrance, Bulli, Port Kembla and Kiama.

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