Source: Bureau of Meteorology

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

Issued at 10:34 am Wednesday, 22 October 2025.

Damaging winds developing across the southeast and Riverina today.

Weather Situation: A frontal system moving across NSW today will lead to gusty winds across much of the state. Strengthening north to northwesterly winds across the elevated topography will shift more westerly and extend to the coast during the afternoon and evening. Conditions will ease early Thursday morning.

For the CENTRAL RANGES, COASTAL PARTS of the ILLAWARRA and southern parts of the RIVERINA: DAMAGING WINDS averaging 55 to 65 km/h with gusts around 90 km/h are possible, with gusts around 100 km/h likely during the afternoon.

For the western and southern METROPOLITAN: DAMAGING WIND GUSTS of around 90 km/h are possible for parts of western and southern Sydney from this afternoon. With peak gusts around 100 km/h becoming likely overnight Wednesday into early Thursday morning.

For the SOUTHERN RANGES: DAMAGING WINDS averaging 55 to 65 km/h with gusts around 90 km/h are possible this morning, extending to the SOUTH COAST during the afternoon and evening. Winds increasing about elevated areas to 65 to 75 km/h with peak gusts up to 110 km/h during the afternoon and evening.

For SNOWY MOUNTAINS and ALPINE AREAS: DAMAGING WINDS averaging 60 to 70 km/h are possible for areas above 1500 metres, with winds increasing to 80 to 90 km/h above 1900 metres.

Conditions begin to ease about southern warning areas late Wednesday evening, easing about central areas early Thursday morning.

Locations which may be affected include Wollongong, Nowra, Batemans Bay, Goulburn, Bowral, Eden, Katoomba, Cooma, Campbelltown, Braidwood, Bega, Thredbo Top Station and Moruya Heads.

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.