Source: Bureau of Meteorology

For people in Metropolitan, Illawarra and parts of Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast, Hunter, South Coast, South West Slopes and Snowy Mountains Forecast Districts.

Issued at 12:52 pm Thursday, 31 March 2022.

Damaging wind gusts over Alpine areas as well as eastern parts of the state today and Friday.

Weather Situation: A deepening low pressure system in the Tasman Sea is slowly moving south while a strong high pressure system remains dominant over the Great Australian Bight. The combination of these two systems will strengthen southerly winds, tending more towards the southeast over Alpine areas.

DAMAGING WIND GUSTS with peak gusts of around 100 km/h are possible over far eastern parts of the state, north of about Newcastle. This threat will extend southward on Friday.

Strong winds averaging 50 to 60 km/h with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS of around 90 km/h are likely for parts of the Snowy Mountains this evening and overnight tonight.

Saturated soil along areas of the east bring an increased risk of moderately gusty wind toppling trees and powerlines.

A separate Severe Weather Warning for DAMAGING SURF and ABNORMALLY HIGH TIDES is current for central and southern coast.

Locations which may be affected include Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Taree, Newcastle, Gosford, Sydney, Wollongong, Nowra and Batemans Bay.

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.