The Illawarra is waking up to one of the windiest days of the year with a severe weather warning for more damaging winds during the morning and afternoon.
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After winds gusts up to 100 km/h overnight the NSW SES have been called out to 61 jobs in the south eastern zone taking in the Illawarra.
SES co-ordinator duty operations Sharon Fox said the Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama area was particularly busy with most of the calls being for trees and branches down causing some roof damage and fallen power lines.
"There have been 357 call outs received but at this stage there has been no significant damage," she said.
"It has been a relatively busy night particularly down here in the Illawarra area.
."We are expecting the wind to cross the south east and continue across the day. And the bureau have advised gusts will reach 110 to 120 km/h in some places. So there is definitely more wind to come today".
Vigorous winds are also forecast to develop in the Illawarra on Thursday and Friday for the Illawarra, Southern Tablelands, South Coast and many other parts of south east of NSW.
The warning comes as a series of cold fronts cross the state during the next three days.
Areas below 1900 metres on Thursday and Friday can expect damaging winds averaging 60 to 70 km/h with peak gusts in excess of 90 km/h.
During the last 12 hours
- Nowra experienced a wind gust of 89 km/h 12:32am
- Bellambi 93 km/h at 1:05am
- Albion Park 100 km/h at 12:30am.
Transport NSW and emergency services have been called to a tree down on the Illawarra Hwy between Church St and Wilson Rd at Burrawang.
Traffic is affected in both directions and motorists are advised to expect delays.
Meanwhile there are also reports of a tree resting on power lines in a quiet street at Gwynneville.
The State Emergency Service advises people to move vehicles under cover or away from trees, secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony, keep at least 8 metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences and report fallen power lines to either Ausgrid (131 388), Endeavour Energy (131 003), Essential Energy (132 080) or Evoenergy (131 093) as shown on your power bill.
It is understood close to 200 people are presently without power in Wollongong and Berry.
In Wollongong the forecast is for a sunny day with a top of 16 degrees and westerly winds up to 65km/h.
Saturday will be colder with a minimum of 8 and top of 14 and westerly winds up to 55km/h.
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
