Yesterday afternoon and into the early evening (Friday 17 August) we saw winds increase and a Severe Weather Warning for Damaging Winds issued by the Bureau of Meteorology for the majority of the State.

The winds were mostly experienced around the Sydney Metro, Illawarra & Hunter regions with gusts recorded at Sydney Airport 72 km/h, Bankstown 72 km/h, Campbelltown 52km/h, Penrith 72 km/h, Terry Hills 57km/h, Gosford 44km/h, Bellambi – 83km/h and Newcastle Uni  65km/h.

The majority of these recorded wind speeds occurred mid-afternoon to early evening on Friday and by 9pm the wind averages had abated and reduced to below Severe Weather Warning thresholds.

It was a relatively quiet night last night with only 10 requests for assistance received by the NSW SES from midnight to 5am this morning as the winds across the State were below the expected thresholds.

Currently a cold front is moving through northeastern New South Wales this morning and an associated, complex low pressure system will move over the southwestern Tasman Sea. On Sunday a high pressure system will move over the state behind the front creating more stable weather for a few days.

This morning the Severe Weather Warning for parts of the Lower Western, Riverina, Illawarra, Southern Tablelands and Mid North Coast forecast districts had been cancelled, however the Severe Weather Warning is still in place for the Hunter forecast district where winds are still expected to impact the area into Saturday.  

The Bureau of Meteorology predicts damaging winds averaging 40 km/h with peak gusts around 90 km/h are forecast for parts of the Hunter forecast district during today.

As winds continue in parts of the State today the NSW SES urges the community in the impacted areas to:

• Move vehicles under cover or away from trees

•  Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony
•   Keep clear of fallen power lines
•   Don't drive, ride or walk through flood water
•   Keep clear of creeks and storm drains
•   Beware of fallen trees or debris on the road.

 For emergency help in floods and storms please cpmtact the NSW SES on 132 500.