Source: Bureau of Meteorology

For people in Illawarra and parts of Hunter, Metropolitan and South Coast Forecast Districts.

Issued at 10:58 am Wednesday, 9 March 2022.

Damaging Wind Gusts continuing over eastern NSW.

An East Coast Low is now situated well offshore from the Illawarra coast and this system will continue to move slowly south to southeast away from the NSW coast today. Damaging wind gusts associated with this low are occurring across the central and southern coast and hinterland, with conditions gradually easing later today.

DAMAGING WIND GUSTS with peak gusts in excess of 90 km/h are possible about the coast and adjacent hinterland from northern parts of the South Coast district to southern parts of the Hunter. The risk of damaging wind gusts will continue for much of today, but will begin to ease late in the afternoon and evening.

Damaging wind gusts are no longer expected about the northern Hunter or southern Mid North Coast.

A separate Severe Weather Warning for Damaging and Hazardous Surf is current for Hunter Coast, Sydney Coast, Illawarra Coast, Batemans Coast and Eden Coast.

Locations which may be affected include Gosford, Sydney, Parramatta, Wollongong, Bowral, Nowra, Batemans Bay, and Moruya Heads.

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.