Source: Bureau of Meteorology

For people in Illawarra and parts of Hunter, Metropolitan, South Coast, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, South West Slopes, Snowy Mountains and Australian Capital Territory Forecast Districts.

Issued at 10:58 pm Wednesday, 9 July 2025.

Damaging winds continuing over alpine areas tonight, spreading to eastern parts during Thursday, including Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle.

Weather Situation: A cold front continues to move eastwards and will approach southern parts of the state tonight, bringing a renewed increase in west to northwesterly winds across the alpine peaks in the evening. During Thursday, the front will move offshore and strong winds will shift west to southwesterly in the wake of the system, with the damaging winds extending to additional eastern parts of the state.

For ALPINE AREAS above 1900 metres: DAMAGING WINDS may reach 80 to 90 km/h with gusts to 110 km/h tonight, before easing early Thursday morning.

BLIZZARD conditions are also possible above 1900 metres during this time and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service recommends that back country travel be postponed until conditions improve.

For parts of the SNOWY MOUNTAINS and ACT above 1300 metres: Strong westerly winds with peak gusts to 90 km/h are likely to develop from Thursday morning and continue into Thursday evening.

For the ILLAWARRA, parts of the SYDNEY METROPOLITAN AREA, the SOUTH COAST ranges, and eastern parts of the CENTRAL TABLELANDS and SOUTHERN TABLELANDS: Strong west to southwesterly winds with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to around 100 km/h are likely to develop from Thursday morning and continue into Thursday evening.

For parts of the HUNTER including Newcastle: Strong westerly winds with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS around 90 km/h are likely for a few hours from Thursday late morning through the afternoon.

Conditions are forecast to gradually ease throughout during Friday morning.

Locations which may be affected include Newcastle, Wollongong, Nowra, Sydney Airport, Goulburn, Maitland, Bowral, Katoomba, Campbelltown, Braidwood, Kiama, Ulladulla and Lithgow.

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.