Source: Bureau of Meteorology

For people in parts of Metropolitan and Illawarra Forecast Districts.

Issued at 3:55 pm Thursday, 7 October 2021.

A vigorous southerly wind change may produce damaging winds around exposed parts of the central coast, including Sydney, in the next few hours.

Weather Situation: A vigorous southerly wind change, currently located along the Illawarra coast near Wollongong, will move rapidly northwards along the coast during this afternoon.

DAMAGING WINDS, averaging 60 to 70 km/h with peak gusts in excess of 90 km/h are possible along parts of the Illawarra and Sydney coast including the Sydney closed water as the southerly change moves up the coast.

Winds are expected weaken in the late afternoon along the coast.

Locations which may be affected include Sydney, Wollongong, Bulli and Port Kembla.

Kiama AWS reported a wind gust of 94km/h at 3:40pm

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.