Source: Bureau of Meteorology

For people in Illawarra and parts of Mid North Coast, Hunter, Metropolitan, South Coast, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, North West Slopes and Plains, South West Slopes, Snowy Mountains and Northern Tablelands Forecast Districts.

Issued at 10:44 am Saturday, 24 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. Vigorous westerly winds ahead and behind this front will develop in many parts of the east late this afternoon and evening, continuing through Sunday and easing into Monday morning.

DAMAGING WINDS, averaging 60 to 70 km/h with peak gusts in excess of 90 km/h are possible over the Southern Alpine and parts of the South West Slopes from Saturday afternoon.

From late Saturday, DAMAGING WINDS are likely to extend to the Blue Mountains, Illawarra, and elevated areas of the Southern Tablelands, South Coast, Northern Tablelands, Hunter and Mid North Coast. DAMAGING WINDS are also possible through southern and eastern suburbs of the Sydney Metropolitan district from Sunday morning into Sunday afternoon.

Conditions are forecast to ease later into Sunday night or into early Monday morning as the cold front moves further into the Tasman Sea.

BLIZZARDS are expected to develop from Saturday afternoon above 1500 metres with blowing snow. BLIZZARD conditions are forecast to retreat to areas above 1800 metres from Sunday evening.

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service recommends that back country travel be postponed until conditions improve.

Locations which may be affected include Sydney, Wollongong, Nowra, Bowral, Braidwood, Tenterfield, Barrington Tops, Katoomba, Goulburn, Cabramurra, 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.