Source: Bureau of Meteorology

For people in Illawarra and parts of Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands and Snowy Mountains Forecast Districts.

Issued at 12:20 pm Friday, 23 July 2021.

Vigorous westerly winds in the east during the weekend

A cold front is forecast to cross the eastern parts of the state during late Saturday and early Sunday, with vigorous westerly winds developing in many parts of the east with the passage of the front.

DAMAGING WINDS, averaging 60 to 70 km/h with peak gusts in excess of 90 km/h are possible over the Southern Alps from Saturday afternoon. BLIZZARDS are expected above 1500 metres with blowing snow.

The areas of DAMAGING WINDS are likely to extend to the Blue Mountains, the Illawarra, and parts of the Southern Tablelands and South Coast either from late Saturday or early Sunday. Conditions are likely to ease later Sunday.

Locations which may be affected include Wollongong, Nowra, Bowral, Braidwood, Katoomba, Goulburn, Charlotte Pass, Thredbo, Perisher Valley and Khancoban.

The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
* 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.
* Trees that have been damaged by fire are likely to be more unstable and more likely to fall.
* 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.
* Stay vigilant and monitor conditions. Note that the landscape may have changed following bushfires.
* For emergency help in floods and storms, ring your local SES Unit on 132 500.