Source: Bureau of Meteorology

For people in parts of Hunter, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, North West Slopes and Plains, Central West Slopes and Plains, South West Slopes, Snowy Mountains, Australian Capital Territory and Northern Tablelands Forecast Districts.

Issued at 4:39 am Thursday, 20 January 2022.
Damaging wind gusts possible along the western slopes tonight.

Weather Situation: A high pressure system to the south of the Great Australian Bight will progress to the Tasman Sea tonight, while a trough lies over western Qld and SA.. This is producing a vigorous easterly flow over parts of the Great Dividing Range.
Easterly winds averaging 55 to 65 km/h with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS in excess of 90 km/h are possible over elevated terrain over parts of the Southwest Slopes, western Central Tablelands, western parts of the ACT, Central West Slopes, Upper Hunter and southern parts of the Northwest Slopes early Thursday morning.

Later in the morning easterly winds of similar strength may develop over the most elevated parts of the Northern Tablelands and persist into the afternoon.

Locations which may be affected include Armidale, Orange, Yass, Coonabarabran, Wellington and Young.

102 km/h wind gust recorded at Murrurundi at 8:36pm.
111 km/h wind gust recorded at Cabramurra at 4:10am.

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.